PRIME MINISTER BLANKS POPE’S MASS

The pew at the front in the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception that was reserved for the Prime Minister and his party remained noticeably bare, with only the President and his wife seated there. Prime Minster Patrick Manning and his wife, Education Minister Hazel Manning, were expected to attend yesterday’s Requiem Mass for Pope John Paul II, who died last Saturday after a lengthy illness.

Government ministers appeared to be puzzled when asked why Prime Minister Manning was absent. Trade Minister Ken Valley seemed baffled when Newsday asked him the reason for the Prime Minister’s absence, shrugging his shoulders and replying “I don’t know.” Culture Minister Joan Yuille-Williams echoed Valley’s response with an apologetic smile. Vicar-General Monsignor Christian Perreira reported that they were expecting the Prime Minister to attend, but at around 3 pm they received a call saying that he was not coming. No reason was given.

The mass was attended by many local dignitaries, religious leaders and members of the diplomatic corps. House Speaker Barendra Sinanan, Senate President Dr Linda Baboolal, and several Government ministers, including Tourism Minister Howard Chin Lee, Housing Minister Dr Keith Rowley and Health Minister John Rahael were in attendance. An Opposition delegation led by Opposition Leader Basdeo Panday was seated in the Cathedral from as early as 4.20 pm. Former Presidents Sir Ellis Clarke and ANR Robinson, accompanied by his daughter, Margaret, were also present. Former presidential candidate and retired judge Anthony Lucky accompanied his daughter, Opposition MP Gillian Lucky, to the Mass.

Among other religious leaders in attendance were Rev Cyril Paul, Anglican Bishops Clive Abdullah and Calvin Bess, Bro Nobel Khan of the Inter-Religious Organisation and Bro Harrypersad Maharaj of the Raj Yoga Centre. The Mass was inaugurated by a street procession led by members of the Mawasi Experience, who accompanied their rendition of “O Creator” with drums. They had preceded the Papal party into the National Stadium when Pope John Paul II visited in 1984.

Archbishop Edward Gilbert delivered the homily. He extolled the attributes of the late Pontiff who “fought the neo-pagan secularists who are trying to create a society without God.” Archbishop Gilbert praised the faith and hope of the Pope in the face of his illness. Gilbert also reported that at a Papal audience in 2002, the Pope fondly reminisced about his visit to Trinidad and Tobago and asked Gilbert to carry his blessing to the people of TT. Parish priests from all over the country were included in the service, among them the newly ordained Fr David Khan, and South-based priests Frs Clyde Harvey and Martin Sirju.