Speaker of House hospitalized

The illness of Speaker of the House Hendrick Alexander has caused the first sitting of the House of Assembly for the New Year to be postponed.

Prime Minister Dr. Ralph Gonsalves said Tuesday that the sitting, originally scheduled for Monday, January 31, has been re-scheduled to late February. {{more}}

The Prime Minister said the Speaker had complained of chest pain and had gone to hospital as a precautionary measure.

While admitting that he did not know the details of the Speaker’s condition Dr. Gonsalves said he had been advised that Alexander would be discharged from hospital before January 31.

The Prime Minister said he had discussed the matter with the Leader of the Opposition. He also suggested the members of Parliament double their efforts in a single sitting over a three-day period late in February.