SEA teacher dies after collapsing at exam

AN SEA teacher who collapsed with chest pains just before the start of the exam at the Petit Valley Boys’ RC School on Thursday morning, died Saturday morning at the Port-of-Spain General Hospital. The official cause of death for Michael Millette, 48, has been given as intra-cerebral haemorrhage and hypertension. He collapsed after complaining of chest pains just as his students entered the exam room and was rushed to the hospital.

His widow, Shirley, told Newsday she believed the stress of preparing his students for the SEA had been too much for Millette who had been plagued with health problems and had been working long, hard hours to ensure his class was well prepared for the exam. She described her late husband as a “livewire” and someone who loved to “socialise,” but said he had “not been in the best of health.” Millette suffered a stroke late last year, and had only returned to work recently. According to Millette’s widow, just before he collapsed, Millette had prayed with his students and given them a pep talk. She said he had been very anxious about the exam. Communications Specialist at the Ministry of Education, Mervyn Crichlow, who extended condolences to the bereaved family on behalf of the Minister, said Millette had been a well-known and respected individual. Funeral arrangements are yet to be finalised.