Jack: Manning must apologise to Kamla over house remarks

(Trinidad Guardian) – Works Minister Jack Warner said on Sunday that San Fernando East Member of Parliament, Patrick Manning, owes the country an apology after trying to “assassinate the character” of Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar on Friday in Parliament.

In Parliament last Friday, Manning said that the construction of the house cost $150 million while speaking on the Interception of Communications Bill.

Persad-Bissessar has since disputed this figure, saying that when completed, the cost is estimated to be $3.5 million. She said, however, she was willing to sell the house to Manning for $30 million.

In response to this, Manning said, “I thank Mrs Persad-Bissessar for making me the offer of $30 million to buy her great, grand house. Unfortunately I can’t accept. Firstly, in my private affairs, I have never come anywhere near knowing that amount of dough. I started in a humble way and have returned as you can see, after 39 years of public service, to the kind of modest environment from which I originated,” Manning said.

On Sunday evening, in response to Manning’s request for documents, Persad-Bissessar said they will be provided in Parlia-ment, during a telephone conversation.

Warner defended the Prime Minister, saying, “November 19 will be recorded as the darkest day in the history of Trinidad and Tobago. What could have churned up the cowardly wrath of one who once appropriated unto himself the title ‘Father of the Nation?’