President hospitalised with mystery illness

PRESIDENT George Maxwell Richards was admitted to the St Clair Medical Centre yesterday due to a mysterious illness, but both his family and staff assured the population that the ailment was not life-threatening. According to a statement from President’s House, Richards was admitted  “for investigation of a minor complaint.” The statement added that, “the President is comfortable and in good spirits, and is expected to return fully to his duties shortly, following the completion of investigation and any necessary treatment.”

When Newsday went to St Clair Medical Centre around noon, some of the President’s Special Branch security detail were observed waiting anxiously in the parking lot.  A presidential official said doctors were meeting with Richards, his wife Jean and son Mark and the President was in good spirits. He said Prime Minister Patrick Manning was informed about the President’s condition. The centre’s chief executive officer, Ian Kalloo said there was additional police security inside the building, and it was impossible for any unauthorised person to gain access to the President and he would look into a report that a newspaper reporter had attempted to do so.  Kalloo said the President was admitted earlier in the day and underwent a series of “routine checks.”  Kalloo added that he could not give any further information and that would be supplied by President’s House.

The President’s son, Dr Mark Richards, emerged from the Centre at 1.30 pm, spoke briefly with the President’s Aide-de-Camp and then went back inside. The President’s daughter Maxine arrived at the Centre ten minutes later. A few passers-by asked about the President’s health after noticing the heavy presence of security and media personnel. Around 2 pm, an anxious-looking Maxine Richards emerged from the Centre. She said the President was fine, but declined to say what the nature of his illness was or whether he would be staying overnight at the Centre. Mark Richards said President’s House would give an update on his condition. presidential staffers cautioned against anyone making presumptions about Richards’ health on the basis of suspect information. Throughout the rest of the afternoon, there was a steady procession of police officers and Presidential staff into and out of the Centre, carrying a series of packages. 

Most notably, and suggesting that Richards’ illness may not be as serious as some were suggesting that it was, a van bearing lunch from President’s House arrived at the Centre at 3 pm. Twelve minutes later, the same van was moved to the entrance of the Centre’s dental clinic and some of the assembled media assumed this meant the President was being discharged. However while this was happening, the First Lady departed via the Centre’s Walk-In Patient Clinic on St Clair Avenue into a waiting presidential car.  Mark and Maxine Richards departed shortly afterwards and police officers were seen making additional security sweeps of the area around the Centre. Newsday understands that the President was kept overnight for observation and could be discharged today.