PM Manning: UNC days done

DECLARING that the PNM is the only political party in Trinidad and Tobago capable of bringing itself back from the brink of annihilation, Prime Minister and PNM Political Leader  Patrick Manning hinted that the UNC would never again hold the reins of government in TT. Addressing the PNM’s 48th Anniversary Gala Dinner and Awards Ceremony at the Hilton Trinidad on Saturday night, Prime Minister Manning said many people had different perceptions about what the PNM’s contributions were to TT’s development. He recalled that only the PNM has survived events in TT which have sent other parties to the proverbial political graveyard. He said the first of these was the Black Power Revolution, army mutiny and State of Emergency of the 1970s. Manning said while the then Dr Eric Williams government appeared to be “on the brink of falling,” the PNM showed its mettle by returning one year later in a democratically-held general election to win all 36 seats in the House of Representatives.

Manning said many predicted that the PNM would be in opposition for 30 years after it was defeated 33-3 by the NAR in the 1986 general elections. Reminding his audience of “the fight back in 1987,” he stated: “It is a matter of record, that we were back in government after five years.” Manning said the PNM returned to office again in 2001/2002, despite the belief by many that the UNC would be in power for many years to come, in the wake of the 1995 general elections. “There are those who believe that was easy. Then I wish Mr Panday and the UNC well at this time. It’s not easy to do that at all,” Manning declared. He said the PNM owed much of its success to the evening’s 12 award recipients and recognition would be given to many others who had contributed to the PNM since its inception in 1956.

Party vice chairman John Donaldson suggested there was a need for “PNM apologetics” who would “address much of the misinformation about the history of our party.” Quoting from former Prime Minister Dr Eric Williams’ book, Inward Hunger, Donaldson said the PNM remains a party “of all and for all” and its commitment to principles such as integrity, discipline, morality in public affairs, democracy and Caribbean unity remain strong to this day. Donaldson said unlike other political entities, the PNM puts country first and does not have a “fix me first” attitude towards doing things. Speaking on behalf of the awardees,  Leo Matthew said they were pleased to have played their respective roles in the country’s development and hoped to continue doing so as TT strives for developed nation status on or before 2020.