The fact that ex-Prime Minister Manning still harbours the wish to further serve his constituents in San Fernando East is both a good and a bad thing. But he has put the PNM executive somewhere between the proverbial rock and a hard place.I do not possess a crystal ball but can he realistically further improve in speech and general mobility to adequately serve his constituents? It is not like in cricket that if you are an injured batsman that you are allowed a runner.
San Fernando East is not in the greatest danger of being lost in a general election. Not after 40-plus years. It is balisier country. They could put a crapaud in a tie and win that seat. He will remain their "darling boy" but constituents who kiss and encourage his dreams are administering a kiss of death to a man who can possibly physically deteriorate within the blinking of an eye.
Mr Manning has obviously struggled bravely and has improved immensely from the onset of his illness. While we all wait for him to realise that he can be of more use in devising ongoing strategies for the advancement of the party, there is a pall of indecisiveness hanging over San Fernando East.Everyone deserves a last chance but Mr Manning needs to face leaving day to day politics with the same fortitude that got him back on his feet.
The people who are unwilling to tell him to preserve his strength are in the process of filling out his death certificate. In the end we have to ask ourselves "What's love got to do with it?"2015 is the year of hand-to-hand political combat. Mr Manning is not strong enough for the battlefield.
Lynette Joseph,
via e-mail