Trinidad – Former Trinidad and Tobago Prime Minister Patrick Manning died early Saturday after being diagnosed with blood cancer. He was 69.
On Friday, his wife, Hazel Manning, a former education minister, confirmed that her husband had been suffering from Acute Myeloid Leukemia and was “being prepared to undergo treatment”.
A statement posted on his Facebook page, noted yesterday that “at 8:15 am today [Saturday], Former Prime Minister Patrick Augustus Mervyn Manning passed away peacefully at the San Fernando General Hospital after battling Acute Myeloid Leukemia.
“Former Prime Minister Manning was surrounded by his family and loved ones. The Manning family would like to thank everyone for their prayers, love and support during this trying time.”
Prime Minister of The Bahamas, the Rt. Hon. Perry Christie expressed his deep sorrow at Mr. Manning’s passing.
Mr. Christie heard of his death shortly after the official announcement in Port of Spain. Mr. Christie said that he considered Mr. Manning a champion of Caricom, a distinguished political leader of Trinidad and Tobago, and a friend of The Bahamas.
Mr. Christie recalled that Mr. Manning was the only foreign leader to have ever addressed a joint session of the Parliament of the Bahamas in 2004 when the country marked the 275th anniversary of the establishment of the House of Assembly.
Foreign Minister Fred Mitchell has followed up the Prime Minster’s statement with a note of condolences to the government of Trinidad and Tobago.
We at BP expresses our deepest sympathies to the family of the late Mr. Manning and the people of Trinidad and Tabago.
