Blame Patrick for Napa, Hyatt too

Some people have only now realised that Patrick Manning is a human being. It’s a pity though that it took a serious illness to bring about this feeling, fleeting as it might be. Like all human beings, Manning made some errors of judgment. I am no apologist for Manning, Keith Rowley or Kam-la Persad-Bissessar, but like all decent citizens I often wonder where is the respect that is due to our former Prime Minister. In democratic countries all over the world, former leaders are treated with respect. For example, in the US Presidents Nixon, Reagan, Clinton, Bush etc are not vilified and maligned. What are we teaching our young people?

Manning has been blamed for every ill in this society. Instead of blaming him for crime which the present administration has admitted cannot be solved by one person or administration, or blaming him for the colour of the road, why don’t we blame Manning for changing the landscape of Port-of-Spain? Why don’t we blame him for the Hyatt and upscale waterfront area which we cannot get enough of? Why don’t we blame him for the exquisite NAPA buildings in North and South, the popular water taxi service and the overused Diplomatic Centre? Why don’t we blame him for the numerous education and social programmes, some of which have been unceremoniously eliminated? Speedy recovery, Manning.
 

Janice Frederick-Sealy
Freeport