Manning goes after Rambachan and Assam

Patrick Manning went on the offensive Monday against two opposition senators - Dr Suruj Rambachan and Mervyn Assam.

Assam is a former UNC cabinet minister who also served in the NAR administration and Rambachan was Trinidad and Tobago's ambassador to Brazil while NAR was in government.

Speaking at a political meeting in the Pointe-a-Pierre constituency Monday, the prime minister said both men have questions to answer.

He didn't name the two, but stated that one of them was forced to leave Brazil. He also said both of them were part of the NAR administration that cut the cost of living allowance of public servants by ten per cent.

“One of them, who I beat already in San Fernando and I’ll beat again anytime he comes, is yet to explain to the national community his role in CLICO Investment Bank which has crashed. He must explain it,” Manning said, in reference to Assam.

Assam has already distanced himself from the CLICO crash, saying he went to the organization to clean up the mess.

He also spoke about Rambachan and without calling his name asked the opposition Senate leader to "explain to you the circumstances under which he left Brazil.”

Manning said, “He must explain that and I can tell you he left in a haste before the Brazilian authorities acted. Ask him why.”