The State stands ready to assist if former prime minister Patrick Manning needs to be flown out of T&T for specialist medical care, Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar promised yesterday. Speaking with reporters before going into a high-powered meeting to discuss the Government's $7.2 billion highway project at Debe, Persad-Bissessar said even though she wanted to visit Manning at hospital, she respected the family's wishes to allow visits only to immediate family. She appealed to the nation to continue to pray for Manning who she said had made a tremendous contribution to T&T. "I spoke with Mrs Manning and she advised that visits are restricted to immediate family," the PM said.
"I asked my Minister of Health to visit and he did, so I understand what the family is saying." She said after Minister Fuad Khan visited Manning, he also recommended that visits be limited. "With respect to visits, I will be guided by the family's wishes," the Prime Minister said. Asked if the State would assist Manning in the event that he needed medical care abroad, Persad-Bissessar said: "I have already said to Mrs Manning yesterday that in whatever way the State can assist, we will give that assistance."