Sir Ellis suffers massive stroke

Trinidad and Tobago's first President, Sir Ellis Clarke, has suffered a massive stroke and is in hospital. Both the government and the opposition have sent their best wishes to Sir Ellis, wishing him a "speedy recovery.

Health Minister Therese Baptiste-Cornelis told the media the entire Cabinet is concerned about Sir Ellis’ illness. 

“He is one of the great minds of our nation and we wish that he will recover quickly to continue contributing positively towards the development of Trinidad and Tobago,” she told the Guardian newspaper.

Ashton Forde, acting general secretary of the the People’s National Movement (PNM) said the party is praying for Sir Ellis, who is 93.

Sir Ellis served Trinidad and Tobago is various capacities - civil servant, diplomat, constitutional expert - and became the country's last Governor General following the departure of Sir Solomon Hochoy. 

In 1976 he gave up that post and became the first President of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago.