THE HEAT in the new Rex Nettleford Hall of residence auditorium on the Mona campus of the University of the West Indies was too much for Prime Minister P.J. Patterson yesterday. He had to leave the hall's official opening ceremony for a few minutes.
But when he spoke later at a Gleaner Editors' forum at the Gleaner Company Ltd., downtown Kingston, he dismissed speculation about his health, stating that he had received the all clear from doctors in Atlanta, USA,
He explained to editors and senior reporters that after last year's fainting episode in Portmore, St. Catherine, he had a "very very full check in New York". The doctors at that time recommended that he do a colonoscopy to "complete the series". He had this done last month when he was in Atlanta.
"The doctor has told me that if I live for another 10 years it will not be necessary for me to have a similar examination," Mr. Patterson said.
He added: "I'm fit. I'm well and very much looking forward to the campaign which as far as I'm concerned is now officially on."
At the UWI event, a wan-looking Mr. Patterson left the podium shortly after Professor Leo-Rhynie, Pro Vice Chancellor at the University of the UWI Mona Campus, began giving an overview of the 17-month project which built the 800-room hall of residence. It was built with the aid of a $564 million local loan.
Mr. Patterson had begun showing signs of being affected by the heat long before Prof. Leo Rhynie's speech. He discarded his jacket before the welcome was finished and as Custos of St. Andrew Bishop Carmen Stewart led prayers. Mr. Patterson, flanked by Senator Burchell Whiteman and UWI officials, loosened his tie and the first few buttons at his collar, fidgeting, mopping his brow and fanning.
He switched seats with members on the platform so he could sit directly under a nearby ceiling fan. The Prime Minister later went outside the building. After a few minutes, he returned to the platform.
"You must also forgive me if I did not remember how hot this part of the Mona Campus can be at this time of summer," he told the packed auditorium.
He also teased UWI Vice Chancellor Professor Rex Nettleford, making a crack about Chancellor/Taylor Hall rivalry.
He pointed out that the PNP administration had cleared a US$20 million debt to the university, when it took over in 1989 and had moved Government contributions to the university from the equivalent of US$1 billion in 1989 to US$3.3 billion last year.
In November last year, Mr. Patterson fainted shortly after he began addressing a Live-and-Direct meeting in Portmore, St. Catherine. During that time his speech became slurred and incoherent. In 1993, Mr. Patterson collapsed while addressing a PNP constituency conference in South East St. Catherine. He was said then to have been suffering from exhaustion.
