Letter: Manning can't back away from election now

The Elections bell has sounded.

The 10.5 quake that shook the UNC on January 24th has produced a tsunami that threatens Manning’s fortress PNM.

Coupled with the imminent release of the UFF Commission report, rising public discontent, exposed malfeasance in NAPA and several other areas, Manning has decided pre-emptively to go to the polls for another five year mandate before opposition consolidation can take place.

The Voice of the People rally today (Saturday) places Kamla as the undisputed leader of any coalition, removing that stumbling block from opposition accord.

The UNC faction of the coalition would have the first right to its present seats, and the COP to those where it made a good showing against the PNM in the last three-way race.

The rest of the seats should not pose any problems of resolution.

The die has been cast and Manning is now committed to dissolving Parliament. To “back back” now would be to lose face completely and serve no purpose but to prolong the national agony.

With sundry police investigations proceeding apace, the Manning administration is further imperilled.

The rally today was impressive. The crowd was completely attentive to Kamla’s words even when spoken softly.

Manning’s plan to do a public demonstration on April 9th is insidious and one must hope that the Ag. Police Commissioner rejects the application in the national interest.

Indeed, it would be advisable for a formal protest to be lodged with him in advance by concerned citizens against the proposed application.

The nation now has some hope for respite from flagrant corruption. Hopefully the new administration will be committed to corruption eradication.

M.F. Rahman - via email.