PM torn between two churches

PRIME MINISTER Patrick Manning is in a jam. He has been invited to attend Easter Service in two churches at the same time, both miles apart. He yesterday explained to Newsday: “My wife is out of the country on Government business as you know in Washington DC. I have a choice. Either All Saints on Marli Street or St Paul’s in San Fernando for 6 am. I usually go to St Paul’s at times like Easter and Christmas. I’m not sure if I want to go to South in the morning.” He said he had to make a decision as to which church to attend. Manning continued: “Then my sister will be visiting for lunch, and my children, although they are not children any more. There will be about seven of us at lunch. Tomorrow afternoon there will be some commmunity sports in Pleasantville in my constituency (San Fernando East).”

Given the topicality of The Passion of the Christ, he was asked if he had any plans to visit the cinema this Easter. He replied ‘no’. Yesterday, other politicians proved very hard to contact. Not only were most of them away from their homes, but many had also turned off their cell-phones. Newsday was able to contact one member of each of the Government, Opposition, and Independent benches of Parliament. So how were they spending Easter Sunday? Minister of Trade, Ken Valley, said: “I’m going to go to church and then spend a quiet day with my family.” Was there anything exciting lined up on the lunch menu? “I don’t know. Whatever my wife gives me to eat, I’m going to eat.”              

Siparia MP, Kamla Persad-Bissessar, replied: “Family time. More time with the family. Quality family time. Everybody will be at home. I’m sure we’ll be doing some extra cooking.” Independent Senator, Parvatee Anmolsingh-Mahabir, will have a somewhat contemplative Easter. She will remember her brother-in-law, Dr Deepak Mahabir, who had been due to become San Fernando General Hospital Medical Chief of Staff but had tragically died from an asthma attack because an ambulance lacked emergency oxygen. 

Anmolsingh-Mahabir said: “I’ll be going to my in-laws who will be having some ‘Prayers for the departed’, for my brother-in-law. It’s called a ‘Sharaad.’ All the families are to assemble. These prayers are held a certain number of times over a year. The times are measured from the time of death. He died on January 8 2004. “This weekend the Pundit will tell us when are the most auspicious days for more prayers. It is a one year mourning period. It coincides very well, this weekend, with the Ressurection. It’s a time for the family to gather and have prayers.”