After Spending Two Days In Hospital, Mapp Ordered To Rest

When Government House did not issue a press invite notifying media of Governor Kenneth Mapp’s weekly press briefing that was set for Wednesday, it was not clear why, and the governor has been noticeably missing from the public for the entire week.

On Saturday morning, the administration’s press secretary, Sandra Goomansingh, confirmed to The Consortium that the governor, after experiencing “severe pains in his abdomen” on Wednesday, was taken to the Juan F. Luis Hospital, where he remained for three days. His schedule for the week was canceled, so too was his agenda for the upcoming week.

Ms. Goomansingh said Mr. Mapp was instructed to primarily rest after being released from the hospital on Thursday. “The governor underwent a number tests, treatment and was discharged on Thursday with a number of instructions from his physician, chief among them was to ‘get some rest,'” she wrote.

While the governor was still in the hospital, he communicated with the lieutenant governor on several occasions, according to Ms. Goomansingh. She said Mr. Mapp was resting at his residence “pursuant to the doctor’s orders, adding that his access to official business and calls are limited and his calendar has been cleared of official business over the next seven days.

In 2016, the governor had made it a priority of his administration, beginning with him, to eat healthy and exercise. Mr. Mapp teamed up with the creators of The Biggest Loser TV show, to help lead the initiative.

“Improving the health of Virgin Islanders will enhance our quality of life, reduce the burden on our health care facilities and lower the cost of insurance premiums,” the governor said.

But in January, Mr. Mapp told The Consortium that the initiative was placed on hold because his administration had to deal with more pressing matters, including seeking alternative ways of raising funds after being rejected by bond market.

The governor has spoken openly about his struggle with sickle cell trait, but according to scientific research, people with sickle cell trait usually do not have any of the symptoms of sickle cell disease — among them lung and heart injury, pain crises, and bacterial infections to name a few — and live a normal life. However, they can pass on the sickle cell trait to their children.

Ms. Goomansingh told The Consortium that she did not have information on what caused the abdominal pain, but would followup with the governor for more details.

The clearing of the governor’s agenda for the upcoming week means Mr. Mapp, if he planned on attending, will miss the annual National Governor’s Association (NGA) conference, which he attended last year, where he met with, among other important government officials, Vice President Mike Pence.

Correction: February 24, 2018

Governor Mapp spent Wednesday and Thursday at the Juan F. Luis Hospital, Government House clarified Saturday, not three. He went in on Wednesday and was released Thursday. The story has been updated to reflect the correct information.