PM gets pacemaker birthday present?

PRIME MINISTER Patrick Manning yesterday celebrated his 58th birthday in Cuba and is believed to have had his pacemaker insertion completed. Manning was born in San Fernando on August 17, 1946. Up to late yesterday evening, Government officials said they had received no word from Cuba regarding Prime Minister Patrick Manning’s pacemaker insertion but there was nothing to be concerned about.

The Prime Minister left Trinidad on Saturday and arrived in Havana early Sunday morning. The procedure is described as a routine one and was expected to take place within the next 48 hours. A statement from Whitehall said, “This procedure is pending for some time, is expected to take 45 minutes and is usually performed under local anaesthetic.” The decision for Manning to have a pacemaker insertion was based on the advice of medical practitioners as a result of a routine medical analysis on his heart which he underwent in Cuba the previous week. On April 21, 1998, Manning had surgery in Cuba to repair two valves in his heart which were damaged following an attack of rheumatic fever when he was 13 years old.

Cardiologist Dr Roy Tilluckdharry said having a pacemaker would not require Manning to change his lifestyle, but he would have to avoid metal detectors and any device which emits electronic waves. The Prime Minister was expected to be out of the country for four days and an official said he could return home today. Speaking with Newsday after a sod-turning ceremony for Phase II of the Diego Martin Highway Extension yesterday, Trade and Industry Minister Ken Valley said as far as he was aware, Manning was due home today and was in good health. Education Minister Hazel Manning accompanied her husband to Cuba for the procedure.