Excerpt from Michael Harris: Patrick Manning's judicious intervention

Read the full column in the Trinidad Express

"Mr Manning's greatest resource, as he positions himself to take advantage of any "accident of history'' which may occur, is Dr Rowley's (the current political leader) manifest incapacity either to comprehend or to act on such comprehension, the current exceedingly negative view which the country has of his party and the need therefore to espouse a vision of change which could rally the country.

"The significance of what Mr Manning had to say in his press conference should therefore not go unremarked...

"Understand that it does not matter whether one believes that Mr Manning is sincere or not. What matters is that it was said and that it was Mr Manning who said it. The time may come when the question will be asked, "which amongst you had the humility to apologise to the country for what you did to us?" And now only Mr Manning would be able to respond, "I did".

"But that is not all. We should note too Mr Manning's description of his declared intention to intervene in the politics going forward. He reportedly stated in his press conference that, "I am not going to act like a mongrel, that is to say, a pothound. It is not my intention to run after every car that passes, not at all. What I propose to do is to intervene judiciously from time to time as I consider appropriate.''

"If this statement, notwithstanding Mr Manning's declared support for Dr Rowley as political leader of the party, is not a direct attack on Dr Rowley and how he has proceeded as Leader of the Opposition since his appointment, then I find it difficult to imagine what a direct attack would look like.

"Those who have eyes to see and ears to hear would understand that the battle for the PNM is now joined in earnest."

-Michael Harris