Opposition Leader Tracy Panton Suffers Medical Scare During Budget Debate

Leader of the Opposition, Tracy Panton, had a medical scare earlier today during the budget debate in Belmopan.  During her presentation, just after one o’clock this afternoon, the 56-year-old, began experiencing some discomfort in her leg.  The situation called for a break in today’s session allowing medical personnel to assess Panton’s condition.  The LOTO spoke on the incident.

Tracy Panton, Leader of the Opposition: “I had surgery recently on my right leg and I haven’t tested it in terms of for standing for that length of time. I’m healing, of course I’m in therapy, but the pain had become so excruciating  that I needed to take a break. I had to sit for a moment and so that’s why we had the interruption. I was lightheaded. I was feeling unsteady on my feet  and that was caused by the pain and so I really just needed to take a break. I didn’t want to have any major event at my first formal sitting here at the House rebutting the budget and so I thought it was best for me to ask for a short break so I could reset so to speak.  I’m human. I’m not a machine. I have an injury that requires time for healing to take place. I could not stand on my feet for two hours. It’s the first time I have tested it since having the procedure done on my leg. You know, I did everything to prepare to stand as long as I could and I’m okay with that. You know, I’m okay with that. I don’t know who celebrates that. It has to say something about a person that would show no empathy for a person who is actually human.”

Reporter: Including on the other side of the aisle, by the way.  
Tracy Panton, Leader of the Opposition:“That’s their prerogative.  Again, I have always been extremely respectful of all my colleagues in this National Assembly.  Certainly, I regard my colleagues on the opposition side very highly, but I’ve always been very mindful and concerned about my colleagues on the government side and if they do feel that way that would be regrettable. But it speaks about them, it doesn’t say anything about me.”

The budget debate resumed just before two o’clock with Panton continuing her presentation.  Panton is marked in Belize’s history books as the first woman Leader of the Opposition for Belize.