Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar had to halt her contribution during yesterday’s Parliament sitting after United National Congress (UNC) activist Patsy Lezama collapsed in the chamber. House Speaker Wade Mark ordered a 15-minute suspension of proceedings after Lezama collapsed in the public gallery.
Persad-Bissessar, while winding up the debate on the no-confidence motion brought against her, had noticed that Lezama was collapsing in the public gallery. She called out to Education Minister Tim Gopeesingh, a medical doctor, to see to Lezama, who was gasping and holding her chest after she collapsed. The PM said: “ Tim...!”
Gopeesingh, Minister of Tobago Development Delmon Baker, also a doctor, Congress of the People (COP) leader Prakash Ramadhar and other PP MPs surrounded Lezama and gave her aid. Gopeesingh then called for emergency services to come to the Parliament to assist her. Persad-Bissessar also went to comfort Lezama and COP MP Rodger Samuel sat closely to her and prayed with her.
A stretcher was brought by Fire Services officials after almost 13 minutes and Lezama was taken for medical treatment. On resuming her contribution, Persad-Bissessar said: “Our prayers go with our sister Patsy.” UNC officials said Lezama was a staunch activist who attended all its meetings. They said she was ill recently and had missed the recent UNC forum on the night of the PM’s birthday.