President still in hospital
President Janet Jagan's condition has improved but she is to remain under observation over 24 hours and will not attend the CARICOM Heads of Government meeting this weekend, the Office of the President said yesterday. Mrs Jagan, 79, took ill on Thursday with chest pains and was rushed to the St Joseph's Mercy Hospital where she was initially diagnosed as having angina. However, the Office of the President statement yesterday said that "the initial symptoms that caused her hospitalisation have finally disappeared." The statement did not say what those symptoms were and if there was any other cause for concern, but this newspaper was told that the President's sugar level is somewhat high. Her daughter, Nadira Jagan-Brancier, flew in to be by her side yesterday and the Office of the President statement said the President spoke with her son, Dr Cheddi Jagan Jnr, briefly yesterday. She also received visits from close family members. Stabroek News understands that the President was to have gone overseas for medical attention relating to another issue recently but cancelled the visit. She is also reported to have gone for several days without any proper rest. This took a toll and on Wednesday night, following a reception to mark Canada Day at the Canadian High Commission, which she attended, she took ill and was rushed after midnight to the St Joseph's Mercy Hospital where she was in intensive care. She was later removed to a private room where she was still resting yesterday and no visitors apart from immediate family and associates were allowed. In 1991, Mrs Jagan suffered from atrial fibrillation or heart palpitation and in 1996, she was rushed to Mercy Hospital with blood poisoning and a recurring heart problem. Meanwhile, Foreign Affairs Minister, Clement Rohee will represent the President at the Heads of Government meeting which opens in Trinidad and Tobago tomorrow. And the Central Committee of the PPP is to meet today. The agenda of the meeting was decided on Thursday at a special meeting of the Executive Council of the party.
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