Former PNM leader Patrick Manning has stressed that he had made seven unsuccessful attempts to speak with PNM leader Keith Rowley about his current walk for democracy. Port-of-Spain mayor Louis Lee Sing has criticised the walk and the PNM leadership and majority of MPs have distanced themselves from it. PNM's leadership has indicated they were unaware of the walk. owever, Lee Sing's daughter in law, PNM youth league officer Laurel Lezama-Lee Sing, joined Manning's walk on Thursday.
Manning had responded on the issue within the PNM. His response was taken and posted- not by him, his office confirmed-on Internet sites including PNM Women's League post.
Manning's comments surfaced yesterday as he undertook the third leg of his seven-day walk against his suspension from Parliament and Government's handling of national issues and firing of workers. Manning, several former ministers and San Fernando East supporters walked from Grand Bazaar to Endeavour, Chaguanas. During Tuesday's second leg in San Juan, Manning's wife Hazel tripped on cracked pavement and fell, sustaining a bruise. Manning, in his comment about alleged non-consultation with the party, said, "The PNM has one Political Leader, Dr Keith Christopher Rowley, and I am in full support of his leadership."
He added, "Between Saturday morning and Monday afternoon, I made seven attempts to speak with the Political Leader as follows: Four messages on his home phone voice mail when my calls were not answered, one message with deputy leader Marlene McDonald, one message at Balisier House when General Council was in session, and one call to his office on Monday afternoon when he was in office, but I was advised that he was not answering his phone." "On every occasion I indicated that I wished to speak with him and left a number at which I could be reached. It was my intention to visit him and discuss the course of action that was being contemplated, and prior to raising the issue with my constituency executive. I intended to ask him how he wished the matter to be handled. In politics timing is everything and time was of the essence."
"My dear friends, what was I to do? In those circumstances I sought and obtained the endorsement of my constituency executive. "Too many people in the PNM have fallen for the negative propaganda of those opposed to us," "If we are to lead a political existence we have to be far more discerning and dispassionate in our political assessments. I choose to single out no individuals at this time." Today's leg of the walk starts from Endeavour, Chaguanas to Freeport.