PM Manning’s return delayed

PRIME MINISTER Patrick Manning will not return home today as originally planned, but his delayed homecoming has nothing to do with his state of health. A statement from Whitehall said, “In accordance with the advice of medical practitioners, Prime Minister Patrick Manning will remain in Cuba for a further 72 hours in order to facilitate the final stages of stabilisation due to a new medication being administered. Doctors have advised that PM Manning’s medical condition is quite satisfactory.” The statement added that Manning has been in regular contact with acting PM Joan Yuille-Williams, and “once he is fully cleared by his doctors, would explore all travel opportunities to return home.” Manning is now likely to return to Trinidad early Sunday morning. Reports of a new tropical storm close to the Windward Islands could be the reason for the change in Manning’s flight plans.

Yuille-Williams will perform today’s Cabinet meeting at Whitehall. Leader of Government Business in the House of Representatives, Trade Minister Ken Valley, said that at today’s meeting, Cabinet could decide when the 2004/2005 Budget will be presented in Parliament. Valley told Newsday Government “had a date in mind” for the Budget but things still had to be confirmed. Newsday exclusively reported that Budget Day in Trinidad and Tobago is September 6, Manning will unveil a $22 billion budget in Parliament and the major beneficiaries will be the Ministries of National Security, Health, Education and Science, Technology and Tertiary Education. Five Government ministries — Trade and Industry, Works and Transport, Legal Affairs, Tourism  and Science, Technology and Tertiary Education — have already completed their budgetary proposals and Legal Affairs Minister Danny Montano said all ministries were supposed to meet this week for “a final round.” Montano added that Manning will make a final determination as to when Budget Day will be. UNC chairman Wade Mark said the Opposition has received no word about either Budget Day or the date that Parliament will resume.