KINGSTON, Jamaica – Premier of Turks and Caicos Islands, Sharlene Cartwright-Robinson, one of the distinguished guest present at Edward Seaga’s funeral on June 23, collapsed at Seaga’s graveside just minutes after the burial rites were performed.
At the National Heroes Park, just minutes after Seaga was buried and mourners were leaving the park, Cartwright-Robinson collapsed and was immediately placed on a stretcher and put inside an ambulance by medical personnel and some Jamaica Defence Force Military Police personnel.
The extent of her illness is not yet known, but the People’s Democratic Movement (PDM) Chairman in Turks and Caicos, Doug Parnell assured that she is well and under medical observation.
“I am assured that she is well and that we should not be worried. Of course, we pray for her and her safe return as soon as possible. She has a senior member of the Premier’s Office traveling with her and she is stable and has been in contact with her family and Government”, Parnell stated.
The temperature in Kingston yesterday rose to 32°, which may have caused dehydration among some guests. There are reports that a number of persons, including a teenage schoolgirl, fainted during the long funeral service, and had to be assisted at a makeshift health facility at the church grounds.
Officials from the Ministry of Health refused to give a figure of the number of persons who were treated for illnesses, citing ‘protocol’ as their reason for declining to provide the information.
