Cancer Claims Life Of Former Trinidad And Tobago PM

Former Trinidad and Tobago Prime Minister Patrick Augustus Mervyn Manning passed away on July 2, 2016.

By NAN Contributor

News Americas, PORT-OF-SPAIN, Trinidad, Sat. July 2, 2016: The dreaded disease – cancer – has claimed the life of yet another victim, this time former Trinidad and Tobago Prime Minister Patrick Augustus Mervyn Manning.

Manning, according to a social media posting this morning, passed away peacefully at the San Fernando General Hospital in Trinidad at 8:15 a.m. today, July 2, 2016, surrounded by his family and loved ones.

The former PM had been battling Acute Myeloid Leukemia, a cancer of the blood cancer. He was 69.

Manning served as the fourth and sixth prime minister of Trinidad and Tobago – between 1991-1995 and from 2001-2010. He did not contest the September 7, 2015 general election.

He was also Political Leader of the People’s National Movement (PNM) from 1987 to 2010. A geologist by training, Manning 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. He was the Leader of the Opposition from 1986 to 1990 and again from 1995 to 2001.

Manning was born in San Fernando and received his secondary education at Presentation College, San Fernando, and his Bachelor’s Degree from the University of the West Indies at Mona, 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.

He is survived by his wife Hazel Manning. A state funeral is set for Saturday, July 9th while a viewing will take place at South Academy of the Performing Arts (SAPA) on Thursday, July 7, 2016 followed by a viewing at North Academy of the Performing Arts (NAPA) on Friday, July 8th. A condolence book has been opened by the People’s National Movement executive at Balisier House, on Victoria Avenue in Port-of-Spain.