DR DENIS LOWE is back.
The Christ Church East MP returned to Government’s front bench in the House of Assembly yesterday for the first time in more than four months.
This followed a lengthy period of convalescent leave that included a stay at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital (QEH).
Lowe, who prior to his sickness was the substantive Minister of the Environment, Water Resources and Drainage, is now acting as Minister of Agriculture in the absence of Dr David Estwick who is on official business in Costa Rica. Estwick is to return home today.
During Lowe’s absence, St Lucy MP Denis Kellman was appointed to act as Minister of the Environment, Water Resources and Drainage. Kellman is overseas but is also due back in the island today. Minister of Sports, Youth Affairs and Culture Stephen Lashley is acting for Kellman.
Government sources told the DAILY NATION Prime Minister Freundel Stuart would shortly address the Kellman/Lowe situation as he had publicly announced last month that Kellman would not be returning to the back bench on Lowe’s return.
Yesterday, a dapper-looking Lowe was warmly welcomed back to the Lower House by Deputy Speaker Kenneth Best, Minister of Education Ronald Jones and Leader of the Opposition Owen Arthur who made brief presentations in acknowledgement of his recuperation.
Thanking members for their kind words and those who had called or visited him, Lowe gave some indication of the seriousness of his ailment by stating there was a point when he did not think he would ever return to the House.
He praised God, and heaped glowing accolades on the doctors and nursing staff at the QEH for their contribution to his recovery.
“I cannot begin to tell you how trying and how dire my circumstances were at that time . . . I never thought that I would be back here. It truly is a miracle from the hands of God that I am here today. The thing that I feared the most was that I had started a journey, a calling, to serve the people of Barbados and might not have been able to complete that journey,” he said.
Lowe felt his sickness had given him an even greater appreciation for the opportunity which his constituents had afforded him to serve them in Parliament.