House Speaker faints at Poppy Day ceremony

Last Updated on Monday, 9 November 2015, 1:51 by GxMedia

House Speaker, Dr. Barton Scotland was among several persons including members of the Disciplined Forces who fainted Sunday morning during the Remembrance ‘Poppy’ Day Ceremony at the Cenotaph, Georgetown.

As the National Anthem was being played, Scotland was placed in a chair next to Public Security Minister, Khemraj Ramjattan. A number of other persons came to his assistance, loosened his tie, sheltered him from the sun and offered him some cold water to drink. Junior Health Minister, Dr. Karen Cummings was also on standby.

A Guyana Defence Force (GDF) ambulance, in which several members of the Disciplined Forces had been already placed and were receiving medical attention, was driven closer to the House Speaker and he was assisted inside.

After the playing of the anthem, President David Granger paid a very brief visit to Scotland.

During the ceremony, several policemen collapsed and were fetched to the ambulance. One theory is that they were affected by very hot sun and another is that they did not have breakfast before participating in the ceremonial activity.