The smile which characterised Patrick Manning in life was evident in his death yesterday, as the man dubbed “The People’s Prime Minister” lay at the Southern Academy of the Performing Arts, San Fernando.
Behind his open casket, in the lobby of the Sundarlal Popo Bahora Auditorium, and in front of a large huge floral arrangement adorned with the balisier, symbol of the People’s National Movement (PNM) he once led, his wife Hazel Manning stood resolute, comforted by the fact that he died with a smile on his face. That, she said, was a sign he was in a good place.
“He has a smile on his face. When I ask them (officials at the funeral home) how come, they say it is a natural thing. Few people die with a smile on their face. He has a smile. It tells me that he is in a good place,” she told the T&T Guardian.
She described him as both a politician and family man and said she had no regrets sharing him with Trinidad and Tobago, first as the Member of Parliament for San Fernando East and later as prime minister.
One of her son’s, David, and her in-laws stood by her side. Her other son, Brian, is abroad pursuing his second masters degree and had a written examination yesterday.
She later said even as her husband lay on his hospital bed, he encouraged Brian to stay and finish his examination. Brian is expected to deliver the eulogy at the funeral service at the Trinity Cathedral, Port-of-Spain, tomorrow.
She confirmed that following the service there would be a private ceremony at Belgrove’s Funeral Home, Tacarigua.
She acknowledged that constituents and other southerners were hurt by the family’s decision to church and bury the body out of San Fernando but explained it had to do with the capacity of the St Paul’s Anglican Church, Harris Promenade, where he was baptised and got married, to accommodate the hundreds from here and abroad who were to attend the funeral.
“It does not have the capacity. It does not have extensions. Trinity Cathedral in Port-of-Spain could extend into the car park and into Woodford Square and that is what they are doing because so many people have requested to come.
“This is why we are doing what we are doing today (Thursday). Having an open casket and encouraging them to come, driving through the constituency when this is done,” she added.
Ceremony
Manning is the fourth PM to have died since T&T took charge of its own political destiny in 1956 and the only one whose face citizens were able to see in death as he lay in an open casket.
On day one yesterday, the body was transported on a gun carriage driven by the T&T Regiment through the streets of San Fernando to the tune of “I Did It My Way.” It was put on display at SAPA from 10 am to 6 pm, then taken through the constituency and back to Belgrove’s Funeral Home for transportation to the National Academy for the Performing Arts (NAPA) for day two of public viewing today.
Manning’s widow confessed that it had been a rough few days, as there have been nightly wakes at the family home but the death had not yet sunk in.
“Every night at seven, there is no planning, people just come with their instruments, set up and they keep going. It has not sunk in because I am so busy working with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to organise the final send-off,” she said.
“If it is looking good and feeling good, it is because of the work that has been going on. I love the support,” she added.
She also extended her heartfelt gratitude to the doctors and nurses at the San Fernando General Hospital, whom she said went above and beyond the call of duty to ensure Manning was well taken care of.
She also thanked President Anthony Carmona, who paid his respects to Manning and gave words of comfort to the family before the body was opened up for public viewing.
She especially thanked the public who came out in their thousands to bid final farewell to Manning.
“I did not expect to see what I saw this morning. It is beyond my wildest dreams. The lines are long. They have run out of condolence books to sign. They have ordered more books. Nobody expected this,” she said.
In a scene reminiscent of an election day, thousands lined up outside the centre Manning conceptualised and had built, waiting their turn to file past his casket and sign the condolence book, even as the T&T’s National Steel Symphony Orchestra, another one of his initiatives, maintained the sombre mood by playing a repertoire of Manning’s favourite selections, including God Bless our Nation, Sohanee Rath and Memories.