Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley has called on the nation to pray for former prime minister Patrick Manning who was hospitalised after falling ill.
He made the call at the official opening yesterday of the Ministry of Education Tower, one of the buildings Manning had envisioned as part of a new city landscape, on lower St Vincent Street, Port-of-Spain.
“I want to recognise former prime minister Patrick Manning who at this moment is not doing as well as he would like to and let us send him our best wishes for having the vision and fortitude.
“I would like you, in your thoughts and prayers, to keep him in mind,” Rowley said.
The tower was opened a decade after the Government campus was constructed under the Patrick Manning-regime.
Approximately 800 employees are expected to move into the building today. (See Page A5)
Three years after he suffered a stroke and a subsequent seizure, Manning was warded again at the San Fernando General Hospital on Monday night after falling weak from a low blood count.
He arrived at the Accident and Emergency Department at around 7 pm and was kept overnight in a private room at the new wing of the hospital and was not allowed any visitors except immediate family.
Chief Executive Officer of the South West Regional Health Authority, Anil Gosine, confirmed that Manning was hospitalised but could offer no details about his condition.
A post on his Facebook page by his wife, former education minister Hazel Manning, stated that he was admitted to hospital for investigation concerning “an aberration in his blood count.”
She also wrote: “He is resting comfortably and is in good spirits. We continue to pray for him.”
The post was shared 86 times and was viewed by 600-plus people who offered prayers to Manning and his family at that time.
One of his relatives at his San Fernando home explained yesterday that Manning, 69, had started running a fever following the removal of a wisdom tooth last Friday.
“He is conscious and resting comfortably. He is in good spirits but we are very concerned. He is being watched constantly by the doctors and medical staff. We continue to pray for him,” the relative added.
A close friend of Manning said when he was taken to the hospital he had breathing difficulties.
Another source added he underwent dental surgery recently and lost a good deal of blood.
“We are not sure whether his condition is related to that surgery but we are taking no chances,” the source said.
Manning, who was T&T’s fourth prime minister and served three times and has been recognised as the longest serving MP in T&T’s history, lost his ability to speak fluently and walk briskly after suffering a stroke in January 2012.
In February of that year, former prime minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar approved US$91,000 (TT$585,130) to pay for an air ambulance to transport him to the prestigious Walter Reed General Hospital in Washington, DC, for additional medical treatment.
In February 2013, Manning suffered a seizure and collapsed at his office. He has been doing physiotherapy since then and has regained his ability to walk and speak.
He retired from politics in February 2015 when the PNM, then led by Rowley, was screening general election nominees for his former San Fernando East seat. He had represented San Fernando East from 1971 to 2015 and was prime minister from 1991-95 and 2001-10.
Gonsalves in late visit
St Vincent and the Grenadines Prime Minister Dr Ralph Gonsalves paid a late visit to Manning last evening and reported that he was in “good spirits.”
Speaking to media camped outside the hospital after his visit, Gonsalves, who was on a stop over in T&T, said he felt obligated to visit Manning since he was his brethren and they were “very tight” from way back.
Gonsalves said he and Manning had a long conversation about national and international events including the UK Brexit issue as well as on their respective health issues. He said he found Manning to be in good spirits and they also shared a few laughs, prompting medical staff to wonder what all the laughter was about.
Opposition Leader Kamla Persad-Bissessar, via a statement yesterday, said the Opposition’s prayers and thoughts were with Manning and his family.
“As a former prime minister and longstanding public servant, we have no doubt that the nation will join us in sending prayers and heartfelt wishes to the Manning family.”