Dr Eric Williams remains the ultimate in politics

Although the PNM has never done better, even under Eric Williams, an upbeat Prime Minister Patrick Manning,  stressed yesterday, that Dr Eric Williams still remained the “ultimate in politics”.

Questioned yesterday about Monday’s historic success in which his party was able to achieve what Dr Eric Williams, couldn’t, Manning paid all the homage to the party’s founder, saying that he (Williams) laid the foundation for  the party’s tremendous victory. “You have put my back against a wall, because for us (in the PNM) Dr Williams remains the ultimate in politics,” the Prime Minister stated. He was speaking at yesterday’s post-Cabinet briefing. He also paid tribute to former PNM leader George Chambers, saying that “it has all been cumulative”.  “After 47 years, and after lots of ups and downs, parties coming and parties going...I think people are beginning to see the PNM as we really are,” he stated. Manning said he would be seeking ethnic balance as is the custom, in the appointment of mayors, aldermen and chairmen of regional corporations. By Monday the party should have decided on the additions to the councils.

Asked what specific policies were responsible for the PNM’s electoral success, Manning singled out four factors a) the party’s policy of multi-racialism; b) Government’s  targetting of  the needs of the people, particularly through programmes such as the $100 million National Social Development Programme which involves giving water, electricity and rectifying other minor irritants; c) Government’s efforts to meet the requirements of the young people through various programmes and d) Government’s effectiveness in addressing the issues of the elderly. Stating that the question of job creation now topped the agenda, Manning predicted a reduction in the unemployment levels. Noting that there was a definite wind of change between October last year and now, Manning said the PNM would  continue working in the national interest, recognising the plural nature of the society as it implemented the promises it made and will continue to discuss Constitution and local government reform. It would also bring forward its proposals on power sharing, he said.

PNM Campaign Manager, Public Administration Minister Dr Lenny Saith said that while there had always been an ebb and flow of  the support to the PNM in Central Trinidad, the challenge was how to sustain “this latest movement”. Saith said that on the basis of the preliminary figures the bulk of the additional votes which the PNM obtained on Monday’s election came from Opposition strongholds. He added that the PNM had to build the party organisation and the party  structure in these areas so that people would participate. It also had to make it quite clear that it was governing in the interest of all, Saith added. He said the PNM needed to educate both the people within the party and those outside who might want to come in, on the way forward in order to avoid tensions between the traditional supporters and newcomers.  Asked how important it was to have a strong and effective Opposition, Manning stressed that the PNM had no interest in “wiping out” the Opposition. “But it appears that the Opposition needs no assistance from us in this (being wiped out),” he quipped.

On Opposition Leader Basdeo Panday allegation that there were Israeli spies in the country, Manning said if Panday remarked that, then he must be “spy smasher number one”. “The Israelis are known to be very good in covert operations. If the Leader of the Opposition is able to identify them ‘just so’ then surely something must have go wrong...” he said.