It was Robinson's second appearance before the commissioners. "There were reports that Manning was, in some way, implicated in the matter. I don't like to pursue matters which I do not have hard evidence," the former Prime Minister and President said.
"It has been reported to me in such a manner I would think will be taken seriously. I think it would create further friction in the country. But it has been mentioned in many circles that the absence of Manning in Parliament from the occasion and the time of his conduct afterwards and affiliation with the Muslimeen gave rise to speculation," Robinson said.
Manning is on record as saying the uprising was "a family squabble". He had left Parliament early that afternoon and was in the opposition leader's office when the Muslimeen stormed the Red House.
Robinson also noted the reaction of Basdeo Panday, who had left Robinson's government and was engaged in a national political campaign against the government. "It was reported to me when he was told of this matter, he said, 'Wake me up when it's over.' I thought it could mean wake me up when the Muslimeens have taken over."
Panday offered an explanation to JYOTI about his comment. In an interview in 2009 he said he had been heavily medicated for his cardiac illness and left Parliament early that day to go home. He said he was asleep when his wife said reporters wanted to ask him "about some commotion" in Parliament to which he replied "wake me when it's over."
He was emphatic that he did not know anything about the coup. However he said the Robinson administration had failed to deal with the country's social problems and with the economy in shambles the population felt betrayed by the government.
Robinson speculated that the root cause of the Muslimeen uprising may have been the social programs that his government started in many areas wher Jamaat-al-Muslimeen leader Yasin Abu Bakr had control.
"Bakr was not happy his territory was being taken since these programs were aimed at helping the poor and youths out," Robinson said.
Robinson said Panday and his colleague, John Humprhey, were creating a sense of uncertainty within his government. "There were errant members of government, and they had to be expelled to avoid them from continuing on as members," he said.
Robinson said prior to the attempted coup, his government obtained information that the Muslimeen were beieng funding from the drug trade.
The former PM said there were no intelligence agencies in place at the time. "So far as I was aware , no special system was in place for intelligence-gathering; the police and certain sections of the army will consider it their duty to gather information," Robinson said.
The Muslimeen members were convicted and later freed on appeal to the Privy Council. Robinson disagreed with that but never challenged it. "As a citizen of a country, I felt it was insensitive. Had it happened in the UK, the courts would not have let them go free in such a manner. "
He said his government did not seek to reverse the decision of the Privy Council because his government respected the Council as the highest court of Trinidad and Tobago.
Robinson is expected to return on Wednesday to be questioned by the commissioners.
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