Manning ‘surprised’ by Bush

Prime Minister Patrick Manning was surprised to have been met by United States President, George W Bush, he disclosed on Saturday at a Post Cabinet news conference. He met Bush in the White House last Monday when the US President walked in to a meeting between Manning and US National Security Advisor, Dr Condoleeza Rice. Manning recalled: “In the first meeting that we had on December 15 in Washington, when the President of the United States walked in to the meeting, I was a very surprised man.” Dubbing this meeting the “culimination of diplomacy at its best,” Manning declared: “I was very proud indeed of the many unsung heroes in that whole episode — the story cannot be told now and perhaps will never be told. Suffice it to say, that was the result of efforts in a number of directions.

“When the President of the United States walked in to that meeting, it signified that our diplomatic efforts had been succesful.” Manning shared his thoughts on Bush, saying: “I found him very pleasant, very amiable, and very understanding of the position in the region.” He said his recent Washington meetings were a precursor to a meeting with Bush sometime next year. “We have met the President of the United States and I think the agenda is now set.” Although he had extended an invitation, Manning thought a Bush visit to TT was unlikely, given that 2004 was an election year in the US.

Meanwhile, said Manning, he would study Bush’s concerns, noting: “He expressed concerns about Haiti. Haiti is an issue that is coming up and coming up very fast. It can lead to civil war in Haiti, the situation as it now stands. He raised that question among other issues.” Manning had also held a meeting with Bush’s brother, Florida Governor Jeb Bush. Noting Jeb Bush was supporting Miami’s bid to become headquarters of the Free Trade Area of the Americas (FTAA) — in rivalry to Trinidad and Tobago — Manning quipped that while he and Jeb Bush remained on friendly terms, of their rival positions, “Never the twain shall meet.”