IT is such a pity, so very painful when people holding public office should feel compelled to openly deny rumours that they are suffering from any life-threatening sickness.
Latest victim of such a horrible rumour is the Prime Minister of St. Lucia, Dr Kenny Anthony, whose Labour Party was returned to government at last November’s general election when it defeated the one-term United Workers Party with a 11-6 majority for the 17-member House of Assembly.
Whatever the original source and the motive behind the rumour,  which has been persistent following the general election, Prime Minister Anthony, looking physically fit at 61, considered it necessary to dispel as totally false that he was receiving treatment for cancer.
He told a local television programme last Thursday night that he was not sure why someone would have started the cancer-treatment rumour, but he wished the public to know “that it is not so,” adding: “I am fine and in good health…”
At the time, Anthony, leader of the SLP and former head of the legal division of the CARICOM Secretariat, was reporting on the first 100 days of his post-election administration.
It is to be hoped that his political opponents are in no way associated with the rumour, and may even consider making a brief public statement of its own on the Prime Minister’s official assurance about his health status.
Across Guyana’s border neighbour, Venezuela, it is already quite sad to follow reports out of Caracas on how some opposition politicians and parties are engaged in electioneering politics about the brave battle against cancer by President Hugo Chavez.
Just yesterday, for instance, in reporting on the state of his health following the latest cancer treatment in Cuba, an emotional President Chavez was tearfully saying at a Mass in western Venezuela: “Christ gives me life because I still have things to do for the people, and this country…”
While hoping for an end to the cancer treatment rumours that Prime Minister Anthony has found necessary to firmly deny, we take this opportunity to also extend best wishes for desired success by President Chavez in his tough battle against cancer.
For any of his political opponents to indulge in politicising the ongoing cancer treatment in Cuba ahead of the coming presidential election could reflect quite poorly on themselves and their politics.