Cheers and jeers for PM Manning in his constituency

Prime Minister Patrick Manning ran into an unexpected noisy protest Thursday as he went to his constituency office in San Fernando East, with demonstrators jeering and demanding his resignation.

But Manning's office staff praised him and cheered their leader.

The protesters from the Oilfield Workers Trade Union (OWTU) were demanding that Manning reverse some of his unpopular decisions, including the introduction of a new revenue authority (TTRA).

They say the prime minister is ignoring public discontent.

Manning refused to meet with the leaders of the protest and ignored them as he drive away from the office late in the evening Thursday under the protection of police who used their vehicles to block protesters from getting close Manning.

OWTU president general Ancel Roget admitted that he never asked to meet with Manning. He explained that a meeting would have been futile since the union doesn't expect Manning "to come in his arrogance".

Manning normally meets with constituents on Thursdays between four and 10 p.m.