Late former prime minister Patrick Manning will be forever remembered for his powerful example of leadership and solidarity within T&T and throughout Latin America, US President Barack Obama has said.
Obama made the comment in a condolence letter to Manning’s family, which was posted on Manning’s still active Facebook page yesterday.
Manning died on July 2 at age 69 after being diagnosed with Acute Myeloid Leukemia, a rare, aggressive cancer, on June 30 at the San Fernando General Hospital. He was laid to rest on July 9 after a state funeral.
In a letter dated July 11 to Manning’s wife Hazel, Obama stated: “On behalf of the American people, I extend my deepest condolences on your husband’s passing. Prime Minister Manning was guided by his commitment to strengthening T&T in our time and for generations to come.
“Through his service, he endeavoured to express possibility in the lives of his fellow citizens and in so doing, he helped change the life of his country. His legacy will live on and for his powerful example of leadership and solidarity - - within T&T and throughout Latin America - he will be forever remembered.
“At this difficult time, please know Michelle and I are keeping you, Brian and David in our thoughts.”
Obama also singed the letter.
Obama had met Manning in 2009 when T&T hosted the Summit of the Americas - one of Manning’s pioneering initiatives. This involved North, South and Central (Latin) American leaders.
The Summit, which “introduced” Obama to his hemispheric colleague leaders, was one of his first engagements soon after assuming the US Presidency. It was seen as historic for the new plank of elevation Obama sought to introduce concerning US/Cuba relations particularly, and his statement that the US was seeking a new beginning with Cuba following decades of a US embargo against Cuba and frosty relations with Venezuela.
Family sources yesterday confirmed a service will be held in San Fernando on August 12 to mark the 40-day period after Manning’s death.
Meanwhile, Minister in the Office of the PM Stuart Young said queries on the Manning family’s rejection of the offer of the Order of the Republic T&T for Manning were not addressed at Thursday’s post-Cabinet press conference.
Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley had said last weekend that he would recommend the ORTT for Manning in upcoming August 31 Independence awards. But the Manning family instead reiterated that the best way to honour Manning’s life would be the re-establishment and expansion of the Divine Echoes Orchestra initiative and establishment of the Patrick Manning Development Fund at the International Finance Centre.
Both Manning and Basdeo Panday refused the ORTT in 2014 after then prime minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar recommended they receive it.