Lee Sing calls Manning's walk "foolishness", says former PM has "lost it"

Laurel Lezama-Lee Sing walks with the Manning team during Thursday's walk

One of the staunchest supporters of the People's National Movement (PNM) has condemned Patrick Manning's “Walk For Democracy”, which has failed to get the support of all but one of the party's MPs.

The Mayor of Port of Spain, Louis Lee Sing, on Thursday condemned the protest as "foolishness". However his daughter-in-law, disagrees and is walking with the former prime minister. Laurel Lezama-Lee Sing is a former PNM Senator and the female youth officer in the party.

Manning has started a seven-day walk from Port of Spain, making stops in communities along the way. he hopes it will end next Tuesday with a public meeting at Harris Promenade, San Fernando. He has said the protest is to highlight his unfair suspension from Parliament.

During the walk Thursday, Manning wife, Hazel, slipped and fell on an uneven payment in the San Juan area.

Lee Sing said Manning those who are following Manning are being “led into a sanatorium,” adding that the former PNM leader has “lost it”. Lee Sing said Manning must accept blame for many of the problems about which he is now complaining.

The mayor's daughter-in-law told reporters she has not heard Lee Sing's statements but in any case she said she plans to stick with Manning.

“I support what the walk stands for—justice and democracy. I feel strongly an injustice was done," she told the Guardian media. “Government has used its majority to take advantage of the situation in Parliament and I stand in solidarity with the member of my party against it.”

PNM General Council member Joel Primus told the Guardian someone needs to challenge the Government on some of its actions.

“I will hope there can be greater level of maturity in the PNM and people can get past the whole notion of ‘Patrick Manning’ and see the value of the PNM standing as a united force representing principles for the people," he said.

“The PP has failed T&T and it’s important for the PNM to stand together, so I will hope PNM leadership would take stock, be mature and understand it’s not about Manning but T&T.”

Alicia Hospedales is the only MP who is walking with Manning and the party has said it is not involved in the protest, which has been sanctioned by Manning's San Fernando East constituency.

Another Manning supporters, MP Amery Browne, has said he would eventually join the walk. “One of the roles of the Opposition is to hold the Government to account. Government has been doing very, very poorly and we welcome any avenue with which citizens can reflect their displeasure at Government’s performance,” he said Thursday.

Manning and his supporters say they will keep walking. Their plan to reach Chaguanas Friday.