‘You’re not welcome!’By ALEXANDER BRUZUAL Tuesday, March 16 2010
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HEY FRANKIE: Prime Minister Patrick Manning greets former PNM minister Franklyn Khan who happened to be driving in the San Juan area at the same time ...
AN ANGRY pensioner yesterday held on to the shoulders of Prime Minister Patrick Manning as he chased him off his property, after the Prime Minister entered the man’s premises un-welcomed, during a walkabout of the St Joseph constituency.
The incident happened at about 5.30 pm when Manning, in the company of St Joseph MP Kennedy Swaratsingh, toured the constituency as part of the PNM’s preparations for pending local government elections.
The pensioner – who refused to give his name – was visibly upset when Manning approached his premises at the corner of Real and Picton Streets, San Juan, an area of the St Joseph constituency.
As soon as the pensioner, who said he was 81 years old, saw Manning approach, he stood at the gates of his house and crossed his arms in an ‘X’, telling nearby media personnel that he was not in favour of the Prime Minister.
“I’m not in favour of the PNM and I’m not in favour of the Prime Minister and I am not supporting his actions. I don’t want any part of this,” the angry pensioner said, wearing a shirt with a Christian religious slogan on its front.
But as he said this, a group of children in the yard of the house, as well as a woman in the gallery of the same house, looked on enthusiastically. The children seemed pleased to see the Prime Minister approach.
When Manning, who was dressed casually in a polo shirt, approached the pensioner and offered his hand for a handshake, the pensioner ignored him, keeping his arms crossed. “You’re not welcome here,” he told the Prime Minister. “I want nothing to do with you.”
Manning ignored the remarks and the pensioner, walking into the yard of the house, laughing after shaking hands with a boy who stood at the side of the pensioner. He walked to the group of children behind the pensioner who offered their hands to him. He greeted the woman in the gallery of the house who had waved at him.
By the time the Prime Minister had taken two steps into the yard, the pensioner grabbed hold of Manning by both shoulders and said, “You didn’t hear what I say? You not welcome here!”
As soon as the pensioner touched Manning, two members of the Prime Minister’s private security detail pulled both men apart. One told the pensioner, “You cannot do that. You can’t touch the Prime Minister!”
As a tense confrontation ensued, the pensioner fearlessly said, “You have to be mad, this is my house!” Manning looked on, from inside the pensioner’s yard, then told the pensioner something, patting him on his shoulder before leaving to continue his walkabout.
But even as Manning continued on his walk, a member of his private security detail stayed back in the yard. He told the pensioner, “You’re very lucky. No matter what...you not supposed to touch the Prime Minister or hold the Prime Minister.”
To this, the pensioner appeared to grow even more angry, replying, “You mad or what? Who say he could do that? Where is his spiritual adviser? This is my home and he entered un-welcomed!”
Approached by reporters, a tense-looking Manning attempted to beat-down queries saying, “No questions.” After yesterday’s walkabout, Manning attended a PNM meeting in the constituency, where he delivered the feature address and received a round of applause.
