“Know your legacy, live it and pass it on.”
This is what former education minister Hazel Manning wrote as she signed a condolence book for her late husband, former prime minister Patrick Manning who died from acute myeloid leukemia on Saturday.
Mourners came up one by one to sign the book, some trembling as they wrote while others, with a smile on their faces, recorded their cherished memories of the man they knew.
Delivering brief remarks, Manning urged mourners to uphold the principles which her husband had set. “I want to ask of you to know Mr Manning’s legacy. He spent over 40 years as a representative of this constituency and was involved in the politics of this country. Know what he stands for,” Manning said.
She added that her husband’s contribution was felt by everyone. “You can find it anywhere. You will hear it on the streets, get to know it. After knowing it, understand it, live it and at the end of the day pass it on and Trinidad and Tobago will be a better place,” she added. The condolence book, opened at the San Fernando East constituency office, Navet Road, will be opened to the public for the rest of the week.
MP for San Fernando East, Randall Mitchell, who also signed the book, thanked Manning for his kind contribution. “Mr Manning was a legend and an icon. We are here to record our personal memories and we want keep it on our records as we remember him in decades to come,” Mitchell said.
Dr Pamela Manning, his eldest sibling, also signed the book. Several students, including Darice Gilbert from St Joseph’s Convent and her younger brother Dantaye Gilbert, also signed. Darice said she thanked Manning for his great leadership, adding he was a good role model for the youth.
Vice-chairman of the San Fernando East constituency, Kennedy Flemming, also urged mourners to be strong, saying Manning would have wanted this.