Manning committed to development programs, regional economic union

Patrick Manning rallied his troops Sunday telling supporters of his governing People's National Movement (PNM) Trinidad and Tobago is moving ahead with its development programs, despite the global financial problems.

Speaking at a special convention in Chaguaramas, the PNM political leader avoided the nation's serious crime problem and the growing army of jobless and instead boasted that unemployment and poverty rates have dropped.

He pointed out that unemployment in the last quarter of last year was 4.2 per cent but admitted that with the economic downturn, unemployment is now slightly higher, between five and six per cent.

He was quick to point out that even with the loss of jobs the country was much better off that those in the region. In St Vincent, he said, unemployment has reached 18 per cent, adding that it is between 15 and 20 per cent in most of the other Eastern Caribbean islands.

On poverty he said Trinidad and Tobago remains at 16 on the global index while it ranges between 20 and 37 per cent in the Eastern Caribbean.

Manning said it is clear that the country is in a much better position than its Caribbean neighbours and suggested that future progress depends on whether Trinidad and Tobago goes ahead with the formation of a political entity with other Caribbean countries.

The Prime Minister said the struggling Eastern Caribbean economies pose a serious threat to the Trinidad and Tobago's economic welfare and the well-being of the people, and warned of the threats of mass illegal migration from the Eastern Caribbean states into Trinidad and Tobago.

Manning said such movement of people could cause an increase in drug activity and run the risk the development of narco-states in the region, which would lead to a decline in the Trinidad and Tobago manufacturing sector because of the loss of trade in the region.

"Whether we in Trinidad and Tobago like it or not, we cannot stand idly by and watch the Caribbean in this economic situation and do nothing about it. We will pay in blood for taking such a position," he declared.

Manning said economic union would bring increased economic activity in the entire region - both in Trinidad and Tobago and in the countries of the Eastern Caribbean.

He said the people of Caribbean would likely move to Trinidad and Tobago seeking a better life and warned that "We are not going to have enough police officers to stop the influx of illegal migrants into Trinidad and Tobago."

He said such an unplanned influx of illegal aliens would place enormous pressure on the social services, including housing, education and health services. That's why it is better to do it right and enter into a union with those countries, he said.

"So when we say we want to enter into an arrangement with the Eastern Caribbean, it is not to satisfy anybody's ego, my dear friends. It is a realisation that if we don't go it, we don't do it at our own peril," he said.

Manning also spoke about local government elections, noting that he is ready to take on and defeat the opposition.