Sorry, Mr Patrick. No election coming

File: PM Kamla Persad-Bissessar meets with Patrick Manning following her inauguration as head of government

Kamla Persad-Bissessar on Thursday laughed at Patrick Manning's suggestion that there should be fresh elections because the People's Parnership's State of Emergency had failed.

The former Prime Minister made the call for the vote Wednesday at a news conference in San Fernando.

Newsday asked the Prime Minister about Manning's call as she left the Hyatt after speaking at the inauguration of a regional security conference.

“I thought of that and I will not take any pattern from the former prime minister or any example from him. I will most certainly not call an early election,” Persad-Bissessar said.

Persad-Bissessar also condemned claims from some People’s National Movement (PNM) MPs that the incident at the Hilton Trinidad on Tuesday for the launch of the Housing Development Corporation’s (HDC) “Colour Me Orange” program could cause community “wars” over jobs.

“They are total pessimists in every way," she said.

"They did nothing to combat crime. All they are doing is complaining. I am not fazed by that. We will continue. We will take the steps that are necessary as matters arise,” she added.

Reporters also asked Attorney General Anand Ramlogan about Manning's call. “Memories must be haunting him and he must be experiencing some political nostalgia. That’s why that call was made. It could not be credible or serious,” Ramlogan.

Manning made two early calls for general election in his political career, losing both times. 

In 1995 he called an election ahead of its scheduled date and the vote ended in a 17-17 tie with tPNM and he United National Congress (UNC) led by Basdeo Panday. The UNC formed an alliance with the National Alliance for Reconstruction, which won two seats, and formed the government.

Manning made an early call again in 2010, more than two years before the election was constitutionally due. And again he lost. On May 24, he and his party were trounced by the People's Partnership (PP) led by Kamla Persad-Bissessar.

The PP won 29 of the 41 seats. Manning's PNM had 26 seats in the previous Parliament and it retained only 12. Within days of the humiliating defeat, Manning was tossed out as leader and the party installed Keith Rowley to take control of the PNM.

Manning has been sending mixed signals to his supporters. He recently apologised for his mistakes saying he would retire at the end of his current term. Now he wants a new election.