Manning got it wrong: Dookeran

Winston Dookeran has dismissed Prime Minister Patrick Manning's statement that he was weak and gave away too much to the United National Congress (UNC) in last week's negotiations for a united opposition front against the People's National Movement (PNM).

Manning made the statement on Saturday night shortly after the UNC and the Congress of the People (COP) announced their deal to field a single candidate against the PNM in the May 24 general election.

"He has given away the whole store and is every man for himself and the devil take the hindmost," Manning told supporters at a political meeting in Cunupia in Central Trinidad.

He claimed that Dookeran angered members of his own party. "There was to-ing and fro-ing and they couldn’t agree. And the discussions became so acrimonious that the COP team walked out."

Read the story: Manning dismisses opposition coalition

The COP leader told the Trinidad Express Manning's account of the negotiations is wrong and there was never any walkout.

However Dookeran said he was happy "to see Mr Manning taking a serious interest in the affairs of the COP/UNC."

He added, "It is strange that his interest in this is greater than his interest in the Calder Hart matter, in the Andre Monteil matter and in governing the country".

Dookeran told the paper, "Whatever he (Manning) has said, with respect to the UNC/COP unity talks, has no foundation. There will always be disagreements and there were disagreements, one cannot deny that.

"But the allegations he made, with respect to a walk-out and me caving in, are unfounded. We have moved beyond that because we have already forged the common front."

Dookeran explained that disagreements will always be part of a negotiating process.

COP's executive is meeting Monday to discuss the details of the agreement. Both the COP and UNC have been meeting with respect to their joint platform and common manifesto.

And the first joint meeting with a common platform is scheduled for Wednesday night in Fyzabad.

Dookeran told the Express the unity deal is more than just how many seats each party gets, explaining that it is a whole set of agreements.

And he said Manning is wrong to suggest that he is weak. "They have to redefine strength. In fact my so-called weakness is perhaps my greatest strength. I listen, take action and deliver without too much rhetoric and self-praise," he told the paper.

"The evidence of my strength or weakness depends on how successful I am in the discharge of my public duties. And I think that that is for the people to decide based on my performance and track record," he said.