The Tableland Pineapple Farmers Association (TPFA) and the Felicity Charlieville Fishing Association (FCFA) wish to join the national and international community in expressing our heartfelt condolences to Mrs Hazel Manning, family, friends and colleagues on the passing of the Right Honourable Patrick Augustus Mervyn Manning, fourth and sixth Prime Minister of the Republic of T&T, former Member of Parliament for San Fernando East and former Political Leader of the People's National Movement (PNM).
Having laid the foundations and steered it so decisively, we must all come together as a people to honour this milestone in our nation's history.
Undeniably, his endurance and vision in public service must neither be discounted nor misrepresented. Under his leadership, the national development agenda progressed in all spheres. Our standard of living and physical infrastructure saw unprecedented advancement through universal education, health care, rural and urban development, transportation, energy and other concentrated economic development policies and programmes which we continue to benefit from today.
There are not many people who have offered themselves for public office who can claim to have had a greater impact on our country, the region and perhaps our global position than Mr Manning–a true visionary and an unparalleled leader. The TPFA is reminded of our interactions with the late Prime Minister in 2007 and his aggressive pursuit in meeting the needs of the agricultural communities in the south-eastern region. With his support there was an accelerated agricultural access road programme, reviews on subsidies relating to vehicles, fertilisers, land preparation and other inputs, as well as making more arable lands available to farmers.
The world has much to learn from the life of Mr Manning and will undoubtedly look to his legacy for inspiration for decades to come. May his soul rest in peace.
Tableland Pineapple
Farmers Association