Prime Minister Patrick Manning and his wife, Hazel, yesterday visited the home of former president Arthur NR Robinson to offer condolences on the passing of his wife, Patricia. According to a release from President’s House, Mrs Robinson, 79, passed away in her sleep at the Robinsons’ Ellerslie Park residence yesterday morning. She had been ailing with Alzheimer’s disease and diabetes for several years, the release stated.
On their arrival at the Robinsons’ residence shortly before 3 pm, the Mannings were greeted by Robinson’s daughter Ann Margaret. They spent exactly 30 minutes but before they left Mrs Manning was seen embracing and consoling Ann Margaret.

Several relatives as well as one of Mrs Robinson’s nurses who was with her the day before she died were also present. A spokesman for the family said Ann Margaret was unavailable to speak with the media as she was busy making preparations inside. Manning also declined to speak to the media but in a release from the Office of the Prime Minister he extended sympathy to the family on behalf of the Government. “It is widely known that Mrs Robinson had been ailing for some time and this morning succumbed to her illness,” the release said. It added that Manning has mandated Minister of Foreign Affairs Paula Gopee-Scoon to keep in touch with Mr Robinson in order to offer assistance in any way possible.