Stricken Dominica MP making ‘tremendous recovery’

Ivor Stephenson, the member of parliament for Grand Fond who has been hospitalised for over two months, is making great strides in his recovery, a parliamentary colleague has told the house.

He has being treated in Martinique since taking ill at the end of May.

There has been no official confirmation of the nature of his illness, but WIC News has been informed by sources that he suffered a stroke.

Speaking during debates over Dominica’s national budget debates, Colin McIntyre – minister for planning, economic development and investment – updated those present on Stephenson’s condition.

“Yesterday we happened to be, just for a few hours, we went to Martinique. You see one thing about the government, we have established teams and almost every single member here has visited comrade Ivor, and I will report to the house that Ivor has made tremendous recovery,” the minister said.

Respect to others

The Grand Fond MP, who is also parliamentary secretary in the Ministry of Health, was first taken to Princess Margaret Hospital after complaining of feeling ill on 27 May.

He was then flown to the neighbouring French island of Martinique.

Just over a week later the island’s health minister Kenneth Darroux said that the “government will do all that we can do to ensure that Honourable Stephenson’s journey to recovery, that he gets the best chance to a speedy and full recovery.”

During his speech in parliament, McIntyre urged people to refrain from posting malicious comments online about Stephenson’s health.

“Let us be careful with that. I know we say ‘well he was a minister then he was sick,’ wish the man death, sadly, not understanding that we are earthly mortals, and we can drop, and we will drop one day. Let us be careful with that fellers,” he said.

In June comments by supporters of the opposition were branded “heartless” by La Plaine MP Petter Saint-Jean.