Lee Sing called the march "foolishness" and added that the former prime minister had "lost it". He suggested that Manning was being hypocritical in saying he was standing up for the rights of people when it was Manning who was responsible for many of the problems about which people are now complaining.
Lee Sing advised Manning to go home, open a church and preach, in keeping with a pledge he made some years ago to become a religious leader after his political career ended.
Manning began his march on Wednesday and reached Chaguanas on Friday. He hopes that by next Tuesday he will end his protest with a public meeting at Harris Promenade.
The move by Manning has caused a split within the party, which is not supporting Manning. Chief Whip Marlene Mc Donald said earlier in the week that it was not sanctioned by the party. And so far only one MP has joined the walk. However Alicia Hospedales was absent from the Manning team on friday because he had to attend Parliament.
Manning has confirmed that but the walk did not get the blessing of the national executive of the PNM. He has explained that he tried at least seven times to reach the PNM political leader to discuss the matter and make an effective plan to do the march.
“Between Saturday morning and Monday afternoon, I made seven attempts to speak with the Political Leader as follows: Four messages on his home phone voice mail when my calls were not answered, one message with deputy leader Marlene McDonald, one message at Balisier House when General Council was in session, and one call to his office on Monday afternoon when he was in office, but I was advised that he was not answering his phone," Manning said on Friday.
"On every occasion I indicated that I wished to speak with him and left a number at which I could be reached. It was my intention to visit him and discuss the course of action that was being contemplated, and prior to raising the issue with my constituency executive. I intended to ask him how he wished the matter to be handled. In politics timing is everything and time was of the essence.”
“My dear friends, what was I to do? In those circumstances I sought and obtained the endorsement of my constituency executive...If we are to lead a political existence we have to be far more discerning and dispassionate in our political assessments. I choose to single out no individuals at this time,” he said.
He also reiterated that "the PNM has one Political Leader, Dr Keith Christopher Rowley, and I am in full support of his leadership.”
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