As former prime minister Patrick Manning celebrated his 69th birthday yesterday, caravans of political supporters rolled into his San Fernando East constituency with their candidates who are seeking to replace him as MP.
It was almost a Carnival atmosphere as scores of people converged at the San Fernando East Secondary School where the Election and Boundaries Commission’s Returning Officer accepted the nominations from Manning’s three potential successor, the People’s National Movement (PNM)’s Randal Mitchell, the Congress of the People (COP)’s Ashaki Scott and the Independent Liberal Party (ILP)’s Ricardo Lee Sing.
A walkabout with a music truck accompanied Mitchell to the school where he, San Fernando mayor Kazim Hosein and supporters said a special prayer for Manning, who represented the constituency for the past 44 years. Scott also wished Manning happy birthday during an interview.
Mitchell’s opportunity comes after Manning bowed out from politics as he is still ailing from a stroke he suffered in 2011.
Acknowledging that he had big boots to fill, Mitchell said the transition from Manning to himself was a smooth one, which assured him of victory on September 7. He said voting in San Fernando East has always been disciplined.
“I am succeeding him. San Fernando East has always been a very disciplined constituency, we are a proud PNM constituency and the transition has been smooth. Mr Manning has assisted us, he has assisted me but more so the constituency members have assisted and supported me. I feel confident, I am backed by a sound political party, 60 years strong, a stable political party and I have all the guidance that I need,” Mitchell said.
Responding to the Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar’s boast that the People’s Partnership candidates were superior to the PNM’s slate, Mitchell said the PNM was not about fighting personalities but ideologies. He said their ideology was that the PP was about poor governance, deceit, lies and propaganda, which they will conquer on election day.