Patrick’s day in the SquareBy IRENE MEDINA Thursday, November 8 2007
PRIME MINISTER Patrick Manning was mobbed by crowds of screaming well-wishers who stretched their hands across barriers to touch and even kiss him after his historic swearing-in at Woodford Square, Port-of-Spain yesterday, where he earlier promised a greater role in his government for women.
His speech was loudly punctuated by shouts of “Yeah Man” from the crowd. It is the first time in Trinidad and Tobago’s history that a Prime Minister broke with tradition to take his Oath of Office in the full view of the public and away from President’s House, St Ann’s.
Music, dancing, steelband and tassa drumming took the place of campaign rhetoric and rivalry in the Square yesterday, as Manning stepped onto the podium to be sworn in by President George Maxwell Richards, the first such impressive ceremony at the People’s Parliament, a place which has great political significance to the ruling People’s National Movement (PNM).
Reiterating his call for unity between the opposing political camps, Manning assured, “As Prime Minister, I give the solemn assurance that in words and deeds, mine will continue to be an administration for all the peoples of our beloved country.
“Therefore, none need fear, there will be neither victimisation nor alienation. This country belongs to all,” he said, to loud applause.
Manning, in what he called an address to the nation, said his departure from tradition “signals a continuation of our intention to bring government closer to the people.” He promised to continue the process of national consultation so as to include all citizens in the national decision making.
Expressing gratitude for the mandate to serve another term in office, Manning told the enthusiastic crowd, “I give you the assurance that I will continue to do my best and if it is possible to work any harder than I already do, I assure you it will be done.”
Manning pointed to two significant aspects of the election, the vibrancy of the youth who supported the party’s campaign and the ethnic composition of the support which he said the PNM received.
“In my many years of political campaigning never have I come across such a degree of cosmopolitanism in the audiences I addressed. It augurs very well for the future my friends it is clear the we are leaving further and further behind the old paradigm of political support based on racial considerations,” he said.
“Nothing should bring greater joy to our hearts,” Manning added. Admitting that the rivalries of Monday’s General Election, were intense at times, Manning said that at the end of the day, the society remains intact, as he pointed to the violence and trauma caused by general elections in other countries.
But he said, “here tensions are already evaporated and at the end of it all, the family of Trinidad and Tobago remains united.”
“The elections are over” he said, as he called on opposing camps to put aside all rivalries. We must again see the country as a whole, a unit single family,” he said, assuring that TT’s resources “will be deployed for the benefit for all.”
“Together we shall all meet over the next five years to make Trinidad and Tobago one of the best places on planet earth.,” he said. And as he has done many time before, Manning promised once again that women will play a bigger role in the country’s governance.
“We witnessed the unprecedented numbers of females in the election and clearly there is something about their commitment, discipline, dedication and work ethic that have placed the female population on the fast track of development.” (There are nine women in the PNM’s 26 elected members.)
He promised, “A new government will reflect this national reality and will be historic in the important roles assigned to women.”
In what seemed to be a list of priorities after his new government is sworn in today, Manning promised to “hit the ground running” and accelerate the pace of development in the country.
“We must waste no time, the wind is in our favour, including ever increasing revenues from our main exports,” he said, as he pointed to the creation of more jobs, which , according to him, will be filled by the thousands of young people who enter the job market.
“We intend to sustain an optimum unemployment rate of between five to six percent over the next five years and I also want to assure that we intend to keep inflation under control and achieve a target of seven percent by year’s end and five percent in the period thereafter.”
The crowd came alive when he promised to work to keep food prices down but he quickly added that it will be a “challenge.”
Still, he said, government will intensify its efforts to increase food production through agriculture, adding that food security would be a matter for major attention in his new government.
He said government will also continue to deal with the need for affordable houses for low and income household, and will continue to work toward improving the health sector.
“We shall implement plans for vastly improved water supply, enhanced drainage programme, and deal with the problem of traffic congestion,” he promised. On the issue of poverty reduction, Manning said government will partner with an NGO in this respect and he also assured that young people will continue to be the focus of development programmes, from “nursery to tertiary levels.”
“We will continue our assault on crime and will intensify the battle against drug trade which is at the root of violent crimes,” he said. Manning urged: “Let us go forward as the family of TT,” as he paid tribute to all the Hindus in the country on the occasion of Divali.
“We are now in most wonderful time of the year and I wish the Hindu community a most happy occasion in the celebration of lights.”
The Attorney General is to be sworn in today with all other members of Cabinet. The Attorney General is a crucial figure under the Constitution, without whom there can be no Government. In 1991, when Manning first became Prime Minister, he was sworn-in at the same time that Keith Sobion was made AG.
In 1995, Basdeo Panday was sworn in at the same time as Kamla Persad-Bissessar who served as AG for a short while. Glenda Morean was also sworn in as AG with Manning in both 2001 and 2002.
John Jeremie, the incumbent AG, who attended yesterday’s spectacular event, told Newsday when he first came into office, he promised to serve for “one term only”.
The VIP section yesterday was packed with state officials including the acting Chief Justice Roger Hamel-Smith, Senate President Dr Linda Baboolal and Speaker of the House Barry Sinanan. PNM officials, the newly elected candidates, outgoing candidates, diplomats and other specially invited guests were present.
