Patrick Manning
Manning in 2008
Prime Minister of Trinidad and Tobago
Incumbent
Assumed office 24 December 2001
President : Arthur Robinson
George Maxwell Richards
Preceded by : Basdeo Panday
In office
17 December 1991 – 09 November 1995
President : Noor Hassanali
Preceded by : Arthur Robinson
Succeeded by : Basdeo Panday
Born : 17 August 1946 (age 63)
San Fernando, Trinidad and Tobago
Political
party : PNM
Spouse(s) : Hazel Manning
Religion : Anglican
Patrick Augustus Mervyn Manning (born 17 August 1945) is the current Prime Minister of Trinidad and Tobago, as well as the Political Leader of the People’s National Movement (PNM). He served as Prime Minister from 17 December 1991 to 9 November 1995 and has held that office again since 24 December 2001; he was also the Leader of the Opposition from 1986 to 1990 and from 1995 to 2001. He has been the Political Leader of the PNM since 1987. A geologist by training, Manning has served as Member of Parliament for the San Fernando East constituency since 1971 and is currently the longest-serving member of the House of Representatives.[1]
Manning received his secondary education at Presentation College, San Fernando Bachelor’s Degree from the University of the West Indies in Mona, Jamaica in 1969. After graduation he returned to Trinidad where he worked as a geologist for Texaco. He entered Parliament in 1971 representing the San Fernando East constituency.[1]
Life
Second term as Prime Minister
In 1995, Manning called a General Election one full year before it was constitutionally due. In this election both the PNM and the UNC won 17 seats each and the NAR won 2 seats. The UNC and the NAR united in a coalition and formed the government, Basdeo Panday replaced Manning as Prime Minister. Manning served as Leader of the Opposition once again, also losing the 2000 elections. The 2001 elections ended in a tie, with both the Opposition PNM and the governing United National Congress winning 18 seats. President A. N. R. Robinson appointed Manning as Prime Minister. Unable to elect a Speaker of the House of Representatives, Manning proceeded to rule without Parliament until the need to pass a Budget forced him to call elections in October 2002. His party won this election with 20 seats to 16 for the UNC and formed the new government.
Under the current PNM administration, income taxes have been substantially reduced and the Corporation Tax has been reduced from 35% to 25% of profits for most companies. The Government has also re-instituted free university education. The economy is currently booming, primarily due to high natural gas and oil prices and to significant increases in natural gas production.[3]
Conversely, the country still faces significant problems. Unemployment is currently at historic high levels, with many jobs being outsourced by Chinese immigrants in the construction industry. Violent crimes such as murders, rapes and kidnappings, rose sharply between 2002 and 2006, leading to widespread public dissatisfaction with the government’s ability to address crime. Under the Manning administration, Trinidad and Tobago have been ranked 10th on highest murder rates in the world, as of December 2008 the national murder figure stand at 510 persons killed in 2008 compared to 367 in 2007.[4] There are also two members of his political party, including sitting Members of Parliament, who are currently on corruption charges, and a senior member of his Cabinet is being investigated by the Integrity Commission for alleged corruption.
In September 2007, Manning received an honorary doctorate from Medgar Evers College, CUNY.
Third term as Prime Minister
In 2007, Manning called for a general election to be held on 4 November. The PNM won this election with 26 of the 41 seats and Manning began his third term as Prime Minister.
On 11 December 2008, Manning revealed that his doctor has uncovered a malignant tumour in his left kidney. He returned to office on 4 January 2009 after undergoing surgery in Cuba on 15 December 2008. Manning now faces ongoing criticism over his Government’s inability to reduce the country’s high rate of murders, over allegations of poor accountability in spending billions of dollars by the State-run Udecott now being investigated by a commission of inquiry under Professor John Uff, and over his postponement of municipal elections each year for the past three years. Manning has so far maintained silence in the face of growing public outrage over UDECOTT as a result of evidence unearthed during the Uff commission. Manning and his government is widely regarded as being controversial throughout much of Trinidad & Tobago. Citizens are anxiously awaiting the impending budget for 2010.
On October 21st, PNM MP Dr. Keith Rowley criticised Manning over UDECOTT, alleging that the corruption was far worse than the Piarco airport scandal.
References
1. ^ a b c Biographical Summary of the Prime Minister of Trinidad and Tobago, from NALIS, the National Library and Information Service of Trinidad and Tobago
2. ^ Meighoo, Kirk (2003). Politics in a Half Made Society: Trinidad and Tobago, 1925-2002. Ian Randle Publishers, Kingston, Jamaica. ISBN 976-637-079-6.
3. ^ http://www.guardian.co.uk/business/feedarticle/8036242
4. ^ http://www.nationnews.com/298207762749105.php
