Former T&T PM Patrick Manning falls ill

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Flashback February 2016, Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley, right, greets former People’s National Movement leader and prime minister Patrick Manning during the funeral service for party stalwart Winston Moore at Our Lady of Perpetual Help Catholic Church in San Fernando. (Photo: KRISTIAN DE SILVA/ Trinidad Guardian)

(Trinidad Guardian) Trinidad and Tobago 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.

Flashback February 2016, Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley, right, greets former People’s National Movement leader and prime minister Patrick Manning during the funeral service for party stalwart Winston Moore at Our Lady of Perpetual Help Catholic Church in San Fernando. (Photo: KRISTIAN DE SILVA/ Trinidad Guardian)
Flashback: February 2016, Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley, right, greets former People’s National Movement leader and prime minister Patrick Manning during the funeral service for party stalwart Winston Moore at Our Lady of Perpetual Help Catholic Church in San Fernando. (Photo: KRISTIAN DE SILVA/ Trinidad Guardian)

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.

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.

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 stopover 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.

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