Manning denies saying he will quit at 69

Prime Minister Patrick Manning has confirmed to the Sunday Express that he is planning to leave politics but denied that he has set a date for his departure.

He was commenting on reports that he told party officials he would quit when he turns 69. He will be 65 in August.

"The minute you hear a statement like that you could be sure it did not come from me. I will not call an age, my lady. I said no such thing," he said.

He confirmed that he did say that he is on his way out adding that "what we are in fact doing among other things, is ensuring that there is a proper crop of politicians in the PNM who can carry on after those of us who are present have gone. We started that two years ago, really," Manning told the paper.

Manning insisted that his party is in touch with the people and is fully aware of what is happening.

"I shall tell you that we have been meeting with all constituencies since October last year. Six officers of the constituency and other categories of managers, we’ve been meeting them every month since October of last year," he said.

Manning has said in the past that he would have to retire from politics. He said in an interview in 2006 he when he leaves politics he would "preach the word of God."