Manning calls for ‘collective repentance’

ONE day after a Government-sponsored poll stated that the vast majority of people felt safe in this country, Prime Minister Patrick Manning begged the nation to “heal this land” of its criminal activities. Speaking at the launch of the counselling centre for victims of crime in San Fernando on Tuesday night, Manning said: “I take this opportunity on the occasion of the launch of the Caribbean Life Resources Centre to call the nation of Trinidad and Tobago to repent, so that Almighty God will hear from Heaven...will forgive our sins and heal our land.”

Manning was speaking at the launch, which ironically took place hours after Carl Stone, who had a hand in organising the said launch and who was said to be a member of Manning’s constituency of San Fernando East, was gunned down on Monday. Speaking to the media following the launch, Manning said Government was very concerned about the levels of crime and would continue to work assiduously to ensure that citizens enjoy the levels of security to which they had become accustomed to years ago. Manning described Stone as a “very diligent activist” and member of the constituency. “I was very surprised when I heard of his passing yesterday and the circumstances under which it happened, very tragic circumstances,” Manning said.

The day before the centre was opened, Stone who lived in Cocoyea, was shot to death as he was about to enter his car, following a meeting he had with a woman over preparations for the launch of the centre. His body lay in the road for sometime before it was spotted by a resident who telephoned the police. On Tuesday, it was revealed that a Government-sponsored opinion poll conducted by a UK based research firm, pointed to a favourable response by broad sections of society on issues such as crime and personal safety. Among the survey, 80 percent of the population said they felt “safe,” while 66 percent of persons polled said they felt “very safe.” The crime counselling centre will feature two main programmes — counselling for school-children, adolescents, youths and families coping with relationship problems and counselling for families of victims of crime. Stone’s funeral service has been arranged for Saturday and it is not known if Prime Minister Manning will attend.