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COVID-stricken Portland councillor dies

Published:Wednesday | October 21, 2020 | 12:12 AMGareth Davis Sr/Gleaner Writer
Councillor Irvin Brown.
Councillor Irvin Brown.

Port Antonio, Portland:

Sixty-one-year-old Portland councillor Irvin Brown died yesterday morning at the University Hospital of the West Indies (UHWI), where he had been admitted after being diagnosed with COVID-19.

Brown, who represented the Fellowship division in the Portland Municipal Corporation, had been hospitalised at the St Andrew-based medical facility for the better part of three weeks.

Describing Brown as “a committed councillor, who wanted the best for his division”, Port Antonio Mayor Paul Thompson said he was reduced to tears when he realised that his colleague and friend was in such a critical state on a visit to the hospital.

“He was being sustained on a ventilator,” revealed Thompson. “I visited him at hospital about a week ago and he was unresponsive. The nurse tried repeatedly to get him to respond, but it was unsuccessful.

“It is a sad period for all of us at the Portland Municipal Corporation, and despite his adverse situation, we were all hoping that he would pull through. I was quite shocked to know that he was so sick.”

Brown was first admitted to the Port Antonio Hospital shortly after the September 3 general election after he was reportedly diagnosed with COVID-19.

When his conditioned worsened, he was transferred to the St Ann’s Bay Regional Hospital then to the UHWI.

Portland Eastern Member of Parliament Ann-Marie Vaz yesterday said she was devastated by news of Brown’s passing, saying he was truly committed to improving the lives of the people.

At least three councillors have died across the island since last December, when Point Hill division Councillor Wesley Suckoo was found dead at his house in Green Acres, St Catherine.

Earlier this year, Mineral Heights Councillor Milton Brown, who previously served as mayor of May Pen in Clarendon, also passed away.

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