Manning met insurrectionists on day of 1990 coup attempt: Former NAR minister

A former Minister in the National Alliance for Reconstruction (NAR) Government told the Commission of Enquiry into the 1990 Attempted Coup on Monday that on the July 27, 1990 - the day of the storming of Parliament - that she saw Patrick Manning speaking to some men who allegedly were the insurrectionists.

Gloria Henry, the Minister of Social Development and Family Services in the Robinson administration, said she saw Manning speaking to the men in the corridor of the Red House.

Henry was answering questions from attorney, Darryl Allahar. She said Manning and the men she thought to be the insurrections had their conversation before Parliament reconvened on the afternoon of the uprising.

"That was the same time, just before they returned to the Chamber. Just before five o'clock. Mr Manning was chatting with them, and after he went into the Parliament Chamber, picked up his briefcase and left," Henry told commissioners.

She also said when the Muslimeen stormed the Parliament they made what she considered a controversial statement. "At the time, it was at the beginning of this order, and one of the people, I cannot say who, said 'we have orders to free Mr Panday' - but Mr Panday was not present."

Panday had left the sitting early. He had been recuperating from cardiac surgery and went home where he went to bed after taking his medication. He was at home when the Muslimeen stormed the Parliament.

Henry described the coup leader, Yasin Abu Bakr as a "maniac" and a crazy man and said she cannot believe the Muslimeen acted alone.

“This was high treason,” she told the commission, her voice rising. “I would never believe the Jamaat was acting alone, a maniac and some others. One crazy man was to be minister of national security and we were to follow him.

“I can’t believe they acted alone. Somebody had to know what was going on and who were the other players,” Henry said.

She became emotional as stated that she was “very, very angry” when a Privy Council ruling freed Bakr and the 113 Muslimeen involved in the attempted coup. “I was very disappointed at the Privy Council ruling. I felt a disservice was done to the country and to the people serving Parliament,” she said.

Henry was deeply bothered by the number of neglected - between 15 and 18 years of age - who were part of the Muslimeen insurrection. She said she spoke to them during the hostage crisis and they could not say why they joined the Jamaat.