JAN 03

A senior government minister was forced to cancel her appearance at a graduation ceremony for Early Childhood Care Givers at the Public Workers Union (PWU) building Monday after she became ill.
New Minister for Social Services, Gender and Family Affairs and Housing Yolande Bain-Joseph was down to deliver the keynote address and distribute certificates to the 53 graduants.

Although she showed up early for the ceremony, the senior government minister was seen in her vehicle which was parked in front of the PWU building.

The media was told at the time that she was awaiting the arrival of Prime Minister Dr. Keith Mitchell who some thought would have arrived for the function.

After almost half an hour of waiting, reporters who turned up to cover the ceremony were told by Social Services officials that the delay had nothing to do with the Grenadian leader.

One official said that they were waiting to see if Bain-Joseph will feel better so that the ceremony could begin since she was not feeling well and appears to be suffering from high blood pressure.

Sources told this newspaper that moments after her arrival for the graduation exercise, Minister Bain-Joseph was seen bleeding profusely through her nostrils.

The senior government minister who won the St. Andrew's South-west seat in the November 27 general elections, was seen with her head tilted slightly back inside her vehicle while holding what appeared to be a tissue to her nostrils.

After over half an hour of delay, the graduation ceremony was called to order by Acting Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Social Services Eunice Sandy-David who apologised for the absence of the minister.

Sandy-David said that the minister had fallen ill and had gone to visit a doctor. The recently elected Gender and Family Affairs Minister is reported to have driven herself to a private medical clinic in the Tanteen area.