LATE PRIME MINISTER David Thompson was the first leader in the English-speaking Caribbean known to have died in office from cancer.
Of the other 11 prime ministers and two executive presidents in the region to succumb to illness while in office in the last 43 years, most died from heart-related diseases and stress. Many had underlying problems such as diabetes, hypertension or high cholesterol – three chronic non-communicable diseases often referred to as “silent killers”.
These conditions, coupled with a heavy workload and the pressures of decision-making as head of government and political leader, make for a deadly mix. Late Prime Ministers Errol Barrow and Tom Adams both fell to heart attacks, but reportedly had one of the aforementioned diseases.
Thompson developed mild hypertension a few years ago, requiring a small dose of anti-hypertensive medication.
That fact was revealed by his personal physician Dr Richard Ishmael in his Press statement on the medical condition of the Prime Minister earlier this year. The fact is, leadership of these small island states is an exceedingly stressful job.
Not only do leaders have the weight of charting and manoeuvring these fragile economies through turbulent international waters, while maintaining jobs and social services at their relatively high level, but because of the informality that largely exists in these parts, they are easily accessible to many people seeking audience for various things.
That Barrow and Owen Arthur did the job for unbroken stints of 15 years and 14 years, respectively, and walked away seemingly in good health, suggests the possession of strong constitutions.
It is noteworthy that Adams was Prime Minister for nine years before he died and Sir Lloyd Sandiford was in office for seven years, during which time he had an angina attack. Barrow died in the first year of his second period at the helm – 11 years after his first stint. Ironically, Thompson came to elective politics in a by-election on the death of his mentor Barrow in 1987.
Of course, in these parts, more often than not we hear of health matters affecting our leaders only when the problems have overtaken their bodies and resulted in death.
This contrasts with the United States, for example, where the president’s health is closely monitored and officially disclosed. Perhaps the health of our leaders should be treated in such a manner, as we have lost more leaders than North America and western Europe since 1962.
Apart from death, illness has also forced a number of Caribbean leaders to leave office, while some became ill while in office, or became ill shortly after leaving office. These include:
• 1964 – Sir Alexander Bustamante, Jamaica’s first Prime Minister, stepped down because of illness.
• 1987 – Desmond Hoyte, former President of Guyana, underwent heart surgery within a year of his party’s defeat at the polls after 28 years in power.
• 1988 – Herbert Blaize, Prime Minister of Grenada, collapsed at his home and was rushed to the United States for treatment. Officials said he was suffering from “an abdominal disorder”.
It was the most dramatic sign of his growing ill health after he was elected in 1984. In the four years leading to this incident Blaize’s health worsened progressively, forcing him to use
a walking stick and, sometimes, a wheelchair.
• 1992 – Michael Manley, Jamaican’s Prime Minister, resigned as head of government and leader of the People’s National Party on health grounds.
• 1993 – Erskine Sandiford, Prime Minister of Barbados, suffered an angina attack.
• 1995 – Basdeo Panday, Prime Minister of Trinidad and Tobago, was hospitalised six weeks after being elected. He underwent surgery to remove cholesterol that was blocking a blood vessel in his heart. In 1992, while opposition leader, he had riple-bypass surgery.
• 1996 – Sir Lynden Pindling, Prime Minister of The Bahamas between 1967 and 1992 and the man who led that country into independence from Britain in 1973, underwent surgery for prostate cancer and tumours in his abdomen.
• 1998 – Patrick Manning, Leader of the Opposition and later Prime Minister of Trinidad and Tobago from 1991 to 1995, underwent surgery to repair leaking heart valves, a condition he developed following an attack of rheumatic fever.
• 1998 – Arthur Robinson, Prime Minister of Trinidad and Tobago between 1981 and 1986, and thereafter president, had open-heart surgery. While prime minister he had challenges with circulation.
• 1999 – Janet Jagan, former President of Guyana, resigned following doctors’ advice about her heart condition.
• 1999 – Sir James Mitchell, former Prime Minister of St Vincent and the Grenadines, was treated for a stress-related condition which led to an unspecified surgical procedure.
• 2004 – Patrick Manning, Prime Minister of Trinidad and Tobago, had a pacemaker implanted and laser surgery done to correct his nearsightedness.
• 2005 – Sir John Compton, Prime Minister of St Lucia, suffered a number of mild strokes.
Commenting on his angina attack that led to his hospitalisation, Sir Lloyd Erskine Sandiford said in an interview with BETTER HEALTH magazine in 2004 that stress of leadership was a tremendous burden which impacted on regional leaders’ health.
“Whenever you have to make a decision, whenever you have to choose among options, whenever the responsibility is yours to take a decision that is going to affect others and a situation, then it draws forth certain bodily reactions which we call stress, and it is very much present in political life, especially when it is life at the top,” he said.
Sir Lloyd said though his medical condition became public, some regional leaders had health problems that were not disclosed.
“I know of other instances that have not been made public, leaders in the Caribbean – heads of government and heads of state – in which episodes of illness just came upon them. Some . . . actually fell into my hands. [I was] sitting beside this leader and he just collapsed. It is a major problem and it’s stress.
“The doctors can say what are the cause of death, but I know that a contributing factor in the life of a busy leader is the question of stress.”
Sir Lloyd’s views have to be taken seriously because he wore the shoes and knows how they pinch. He advised that prime ministers should make exercise a part of their daily routine and have a healthy diet.
For those still in office who continue to work under tremendous pressure, hardly taking adequate leave or physical exercise, this may provide a hint of what to avoid. (SP)
