[Updated] Browne surprised by attention: 'I only did what was required'

Minister of Foreign and Caricom Affairs Dr Amery Browne says he is surprised over the attention generated on social media by his helping a sick baby aboard a flight to Amsterdam on Sunday.

On Browne's personal Facebook account, he recalled the incident: he was aboard a KLM flight from Port of Spain to Amsterdam and the captain asked if any doctors were on board.

"I volunteered and it turns out that I was the only one. The airline had a well-stocked medical kit, and we were able to manage the situation successfully. I implemented a program of half-hourly checks on the baby during the transatlantic flight, with reporting via the cockpit radio to a KLM specialist in Schiphol Airport," Browne posted.

He said the baby was safe in Amsterdam, adding, "His mom is smiling and very pleased that a TT delegation was on board her flight."

Browne, a doctor, served as director of the National Aids Coordinating Committee (NACC).

He was on his way to the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) in Rwanda.

Responding to Newsday's questions via WhatsApp on Tuesday, Browne said he simply did what was needed of him in the situation.

"Frankly I am a little taken aback by the attention that intervention has received. I simply did what many Trinbagonians would do in the circumstances, once we are capable of rendering assistance.

"There are many others who do similar things every day, and are unheralded. We are generally a generous people and helping others is simply an expression of who we are and how we were raised.

"At the end of the day that little baby is doing well and that is what is most important."