Hypocrites!
That’s how controversial calypsonian Sugar Aloes (Michael Osuna) has described PNM stalwarts who he claimed hounded Patrick Manning out of Balisier House when the party lost the 2010 general election.
Aloes said he was moved to tears when he saw how Manning was treated on the night of May 24, 2010 by diehard supporters, who rallied behind him for years but in the blink of an eye turned against him like a snake.
Six years later, Aloes said he was surprised to see the same people who had nothing good to say about Manning after the PNM’s crushing defeat, were now calling him a statesman and visionary.
“They are such hypocrites. From the politicians to the ordinary citizen. Such hypocrites,” he added.
Manning, 69, died on Saturday after being diagnosed with acute myeloid leukemia, an aggressive form of bone marrow cancer.
As he tried to come to terms with the death of Manning, Aloes got news on Sunday his mother, 75-year-old Jean Osuna Samuel, a Manning supporter, suffered a massive heart attack and died.
“It was a double whammy for me in the last few hours. Words cannot explain how I felt on Saturday when I heard about Mr Manning’s death. The news brought tears to my eyes. I started to recall all the things he had done.
“I remember how they chased him out of Balisier House in 2010 and my heart hurt and I felt angry because these same people are calling him a true Caribbean leader, a visionary and statesman.”
Aloes said he had two wishes: To produce a song about Manning’s crowning achievements and to sing at his funeral on Saturday.
“If I were to do anything for Manning I would do it after the 2017 Carnival. I will look at his work and put it into a social commentary calypso. I would try to immortalise his work. I would also like to sing at his funeral...give him a fitting send off. I owe him that much.”
Aloes said few people appreciated Manning’s work and how he changed the landscape of Port-of-Spain by building the Waterfront project and the National Academy for the Performing Arts.
“He was criticised for constructing the Waterfront. When the country had the global meltdown Manning handled the economy with ease. We did not face a recession nor did the T&T dollar depreciated. We lived comfortable as citizens.”
The fiery singer said no other prime minister would and could walk in Manning’s shoes.
“None would be able to replace him... none!” he added.
Despite all what Manning had achieved as PM, Aloes said many accused him of squandering taxpayers’ money.
“They used to say he (Manning) and Calder Hart were mismanaging the State’s purse which led to the demise of the PNM in the 2010 general election. It was all a myth. No one was ever arrested for that.”
Aloes said after Manning served the country for decades he was crucified like Jesus.
“They crucified him to the cross. They scarified the lamb of God. Manning never recovered after being hounded out. He got a stroke and his health just went downhill after that.”
The last time Aloes said he spoke to Manning was at Pal Joey Lewis’ funeral in February.
“When he saw me he was elated. He told Hazel, Look, we boy Sugar. We chatted briefly and parted ways.”
Aloes said his friendship with Manning started in 1987 after he began singing political commentary.
“We had a good relationship from then,” he added.
Aloes said what brought the friendship closer was the fact that every year Manning would visit the Calypso Revue tent to listen to the cast sing.
“He was a regular visitor. He loved his calypsoes...he loved music on the whole,” he said.
Having declared openly he was a “PNM until I dead,” Aloes shocked the country when he made a surprise guest performance at the second anniversary rally of the then People’s Partnership government at Mid Centre Mall, Chaguanas, where he serenaded then prime minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar.