Former San Fernando mayor Ian Atherly said he will regret for the rest of his life not reconciling with former prime minister Patrick Manning before he died one week ago.
Like thousands of ordinary citizens, Atherly endured the hot mid-day sun for hours outside the Southern Academy of the Performing Arts (SAPA) last Thursday morning to get a last glimpse of the face of his one-time ally.
But for Atherly, his presence was not simply to pay respects to the man who gave him the opportunity to serve in this capacity. This was an attempt to salve his conscience for not mending the bridges which were broken when Manning failed to reappoint him as mayor for a second term back in 2006.
"If I did not come, that would be hypocritical. He was my friend. We had more good times than bad times. We went through a lot together, when he was PM and when he wasn't PM," Atherly said.
Differences between Atherly and Manning over the conversion of the then Chancery Lane car park, San Fernando, into a government administrative complex, which now stands as the San Fernando Teaching Hospital, led to him being replaced by Kenneth Ferguson as mayor of the second city.
Atherly and Manning, who were once inseparable, parted ways after this, with Atherly even jumping on the opposition People's Partnership bandwagon and being appointed as chairman of Plipdeco, as a reward.
But on Thursday, Atherly who returned to the folds of the People's National Movement (PNM) before the last election, said he was full of remorse and regretted the fact that he did not speak to Manning before his passing one week ago.
"Because we were true friends and we went through a lot together," he said, recalling, "we, Manning and friends, followed the late Joey Lewis to every community centre, lodge or dance hall to dance with the senior ladies. We were his hired dancers, led by me, maybe that is why my two knees are given me trouble now," he said jokingly.
On a serious note he added, "But we were not on speaking terms (when he died) and it hurt then and it is hurting now and it will not stop hurting for as long as I live."
At the time he was relieved from office, Atherly was also facing a legal challenge for interfering with a ballot box during an election process, a matter which he later won.
He recalled that during this period, "when I was going through my pain, when I was not renewed for the second term, despite what the City of San Fernando thoughts were at that time, I thought it was not just at the time and I spoke out about it.
"I regret now, that I did not mend those bridges. I think somehow I was trying to show him that I learnt so good from him, being stubborn, and I wanted to be better than him at being stubborn and I am paying for it now," a remorseful Atherly said after viewing the body said.
"I will miss our friendship," he acknowledged.
Present mayor of San Fernando Hajii Kazim Hosein said it was the first time he had witnessed a State funeral and thanked Manning for giving him, "a nobody" and his father before him, the late mayor Rakeeb Hosein, an opportunity to serve as mayors of the second city.
The late Rakeeb Hosein served as a councillor for the Les Efforts East/Cipero electoral district before ascending to the mayor's chair between 1983 to 1987.
"The last time I cried was when my father died, and now I weep for Mr Manning," Hosein said.He said last Thursday was an historic day not only in San Fernando and in T&T, but in the region and the Commonwealth.
"People are now seeing what Mr Manning actually did for T&T," Hosein said.