Manning asks Caricom to appeal to UNC

On his first public outing since returning from the 24th Caricom Summit meeting in Jamaica, Prime Minister Patrick Manning has confessed to feeling “shame and embarassment” over the Opposition party’s refusal to support legislation governing the Caribbean Court of Justice. He was addressing a mobilisation meeting in support of the ruling party’s candidates for the Rio Claro/ Mayaro Regional Corporation at Rio Claro Junction on Saturday evening. A clearly frustrated Manning also revealed that Caricom leaders had been asked to “intervene” in the dispute so that “good sense will be allowed to prevail in the issue.” “I have asked Caricom leaders to find a way to intervene in this matter and let good sense prevail,” he said, adding that the Court’s establishment should be placed above party politics. He indicated that an unnamed Caribbean leader had reminded him that TT had been originally selected to be the Court’s headquarters because of guarantees by the former UNC Administration.

And with Education Minister, Hazel Manning on the platform, the Prime Minister extended congratulations to both the top performer and runner-up in the 2003 SEA Examination, Shivan Ramlochan and Ava Marie Bruce. Then, in an obvious reference to Siparia MP, Kamla Persad-Bissessar’s allegation of governmental interference in the results, said that “no Prime Minister can feel as proud as I feel at this moment for young Ramlochan and Bruce.” He revealed that the percentage of students scoring 30% or less at the exams had decreased from 16% in 2002 to 10% for 2003. He also reiterated Government’s commitment to the textbook rental system, saying that all books would be free of charge for this year but advised parents they would pay for for any damaged texts.