Golding to do third back surgery in Miami

Gary Spaulding, Senior Gleaner Writer

FORMER PRIME minister and leader of the Jamaica Labour Party (JLP), Bruce Golding, is scheduled to undergo yet another surgery at the Jackson Memorial Hospital in Miami, Florida, to effect remedial treatment on a lingering back infection.

Golding was flown out of the island yesterday, but his confidant, Daryl Vaz, stressed that he went on his own volition following two separate operations in Jamaica.

"They will be operating again, but it is really intended to clean the infection," Vaz told The Gleaner.

"This (infection) is not something that is isolated or unique to him (Golding), it is something that could happen after any surgery," he said in a bid to defuse swirling rumours sparked by Golding's decision to seek medical assistance overseas.

"According to the information that is garnered, we got the information that this is definitely not an isolated case," said Vaz. "It is something that happens at times, after surgeries of this nature."

Vaz told The Gleaner that Golding's back ailment was triggered by a couple of previous operations at a medical facility in Jamaica.

"Despite all the rumours that are swirling, he has gone on his own. He has not been taken on an air ambulance or anything like that, and with any infection, the necessity to treat the infection sooner, as well as after treatment, the better, hence the decision for the trip," he stressed.

"He had a scheduled back operation, after which complications developed and he developed an infection. They (local doctors) moved to put him on a course of antibiotics, but that has not worked," disclosed Vaz. "Even a second surgery has not helped."

Added Vaz, a former minister in the Golding administration:

"Basically, what is required is that they will have to go in again, but not just going in again, but to ensure that the necessary antibiotics to fight this particular bacteria, and as they have superior equipment and quicker facilities. I saw him off this (yesterday) morning, where he is due to another surgery."

He told The Gleaner that while Golding was in high spirits, he was in much pain. "Can you imagine undergoing an operation and then developing an infection? It has been a very, very rough period in terms of recovery," he declared.

In the meantime, in a terse statement, the JLP said it wishes Golding a speedy recovery and promised to promptly inform the public on any further developments.

gary.spaulding@gleanerjm.com