– experienced ‘slurred speech, physical tremors’

IN a dramatic turn of events, the Parliamentary Budget Debates witnessed an abrupt halt on Wednesday afternoon when Opposition Parliamentarian Geeta Chandan-Edmond’s speech raised serious concerns.

Speaker of the National Assembly, Manzoor Nadir, decided to take a break due to apparent “slurring and incoherence” in Chandan-Edmond’s presentation.

The incident unfolded just three minutes into her speech, with fellow opposition MPs watching without immediate intervention.

A statement from the Office of the Leader addressed the situation, highlighting that as Chandan-Edmond approached the podium, “there were notable signs of slurred speech and physical tremors.”

The gravity of the situation prompted the Emergency Medical Technician stationed at the National Assembly to recommend her immediate transfer to the Accident and Emergency Unit.

The brief statement concluded by assuring the public, “We will update on her condition. Our thoughts are with her.”
Days before the reading of the 2024 Budget, Chandan-Edmond of the People’s National Congress Reform (PNC/R) was replaced as the shadow Home Affairs Minister by Khemraj Ramjattan of the AFC and moved to Governance and Parliamentary Affairs.

In 2022, the attorney and former magistrate resigned from her post as General Secretary of the PNCR.