Manning not telling the whole truth about "mystery" church: Kamla

Opposition Leader Kamla Persad-Bissessar plans to talk about the controversial church at the Heights of Guanapo when she addresses a meeting of her United National Congress in Diego Martin Monday night.

She is convinced that Prime Minister Patrick Manning avoided the real issues when he spoke for nearly about an hour Friday about the matter.

Manning suggested that the controversy over the church is linked to an attack on the Full Gospel movement in Trinidad and Tobago and demanded that it be stopped.

Read the story and watch the full video of Manning's presentation: Manning defends his right to religious freedom

The opposition leader is convinced that Manning is allowing the use of State resources in an improper manner. She plans to produce documents Monday night to show discrepancies in Cabinet’s approval for the land to build the church.

Reports say the approval from cabinet came after the foundation stone was laid and construction started.

She told the Trinidad Guardian Manning's statement in Parliament has several inaccuracies, adding that she has the cabinet notes on the matter which someone "put in my postbox".

Manning stated that The Lighthouse of the Lord Jesus Christ obtained Cabinet approval in September, 2005, for the land in the Heights of Guanapo.

However she said that contradicts a statement from the Prime Minister’s Office, which stated that the “requisite Cabinet approval” for the land came in 2006. The cornerstone for the Lighthouse of the Lord Jesus Christ Church was laid on December 30, 2005 by Rev Juliana Peña.

“It is clear that there has been State-intervention. It is clear that State resources are being used, and therefore a full explanation is required as necessary, once the State is involved,” Persad-Bissessar told the Guardian.

Read the Trinidad Express Editorial: PM's Dust in our face