PM Kamla ill, but business meetings in NY to continue

Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar fell ill in New York Sunday and had to curtail some of her activities associated with the India Day Parade at which she was guest of honour.

However, Press Secretary Gavin Nicholas has given the assurance that she is going to be OK and that she will continue her business meetings this week.

Persad-Bissessar attended the parade and walked with Indian movie star Preity Zinda, who was the parade's Grand Marshall.

However Nicholas said she was "under the weather" and did not speak at the event. She also missed the evening's activities.

Nicholas said the Prime Minister visited a doctor for a nagging cough and was advised to rest. "She has to take a rest, she's been going non-stop for the last eight months," the Trinidad Express quoted him as saying.

He also commented on the reception that Persad-Bissessar received.

"She was extremely well received. Thousands of people lined Madison Avenue. There was a Trinidad and Tobago float in the parade. For the first time people who live in New York are really pleased to interact with their Prime Minister," Nicholas told the paper.

He stated that Persad-Bissessar is not seriously ill and will be at work Monday.

"She still has a number of things to do this week. A number of business meetings. There are a lot of people who are interested in investing in Trinidad and Tobago; she will be meeting with various groups this week" he said.

And he said all the money raised in events in New York will go to the national Children's Life Fund.

Nicholas said Persad-Bissessar has been meeting with citizens who live in the U.S. and urging them to return home to help rebuild the country under a People's Partnership government.

"Some people have already expressed the desire and will to return home now that things are changing. A lot of people did not feel appreciated in the past. Now there is a renewed hope that this administration will also be able to deal with the crime issue and the state of the economy," Nicholas told the Express.

Persad-Bissessar's schedule for Monday includes a meeting with GOPIO - the Global Organisation of People of Indian Origin, a business meeting with potential investors and a dinner hosted by the parade organisers, the Federation of Indian Associations.