His Doctor’s Note Cites Syncope for Absence – But What Is Syncope?

Dean Samuels, Shyne Barrow’s proposed candidate for Pickstock, shocked supporters and the public on Nomination Day by failing to officially register as a candidate. Despite being seen earlier in the day actively engaging with voters and discussing his candidacy on Wave Radio, Samuels suddenly backed out. He later cited syncope as his reason for not attending the Civic Centre for nomination, sending in a doctor’s note.

But what is syncope?

Syncope may sound like a fancy medical term, but it’s actually the scientific word for what we commonly know as fainting!

When someone experiences syncope, their brain isn’t getting enough blood for a brief moment—this leads to the sudden loss of consciousness. It’s often followed by a quick recovery. Imagine you’re standing, and suddenly your blood pressure drops too quickly, or your heart skips a beat. This lack of blood flow causes the brain to go on “pause,” and down you go, ready to be revived with a bit of rest and time!

Most of the time, fainting is harmless and isn’t a cause for concern. However, if someone faints frequently or without clear reasons, it’s important to see a doctor. Sometimes, fainting could be a sign of an underlying health issue, like a heart problem or a neurological condition.

As for Samuels, he issued a public apology for his absence. He acknowledged that his decision denied voters the chance to express their dissatisfaction with the government.

Samuels, along with three other UDP candidates—Dennis Williams, Melvin Hewlett, and Norman Usher—failed to appear for nomination. He explained that his decision was influenced by financial challenges in politics, particularly given that his opponent was a powerful government minister. Samuels revealed that the UDP leadership had decided to allocate resources to constituencies with a stronger chance of victory, making his candidacy financially unfeasible under the current circumstances.