Manning doubts there is an assassination plot, says government has credibility problem

Patrick Manning suggested to reporters on Saturday that the reports by the government of a death threat against the prime minister and some members of cabinet were bogus.

"The Government has, in a very short time developed a reputation for being unable to speak the truth. They are strangers to the truth and, in fact now we, and I have great difficulty in believing anything the government of Trinidad and Tobago says," the former Prime Minister stated at a media conference at his constituency office in San Fernando.

The news of the assassination plot became public on Wednesday when security forces were placed on high alert. However security personnel were aware of it it long before that.

At least 13 people have been detained in connection with the plot, including a high ranking police officer and a former member of the Defence Force. Manning said all of them have been detained under the emergency powers.

Manning said in the short time that the new government has been in office there have been several occasions when the truth was not told. He cited the Reshmi Ramnarine matter and the firing of TV host Fazeer Mohammed, among others.

Manning suggested that the matter of a death threat to a prime minister is nothing new, noting that during his term in office he received many such threats but didn't make a big public issue of them.

He stated that when there is some threat to somebody "it is a matter for the security services and it is a matter that the security services have to investigate and in due course bring to justice anybody found culpable."

Manning also challenged Minister of National Security John Sandy to speak on the matter and suggested that Sandy might be protecting his own credibility in not getting involved in this matter. Sandy has responded, confirming that the threat is real.

Manning aslo supported his party's leader's position that this matter was aimed at extending the present State of Emergency.

"If the government comes to the Parliament with any intention of extending the State of Emergency, I say after the distinguished leader of the opposition, the PNM will not support it, the PNM will not support it and I, my dear friends, I may have something to say on that matter, let them come," Manning said.

He acknowledged that the government has the majority to have the State of Emergency extended. However he said the PNM "will have much to say" adding that "we will oppose it vehemently."