San Fernando: Former Prime Minister Patrick Manning is today celebrating 40 years of continuous service as a member of Parliament, making him the longest serving member in the history of Trinidad and Tobago. Mr Manning today issued a statement saying that he would not have preffered any other career. The following is his complete statement:
"Today, May 10th 2011, marks the fact that I have served, without interruption, for forty years as a Member of Parliament in Trinidad and Tobago. This makes me the longest serving MP in the history of our country.
Throughout this period, I was privileged to represent the constituents of San Fernando East and to serve in almost every Ministry in Government. I was also Leader of the Opposition for eleven years. Finally, I was honoured to serve four terms as Prime Minister of Trinidad and Tobago.
It has been a most satisfying experience. I could not have chosen a better career. Options were available, but I took the deliberate step of entering politics for the betterment of our nation. This country has been good to me. Among other things, it educated and empowered me to make my way in the world. Public Service was a way of giving back to Mother Trinidad and Tobago
I have never seen politics as an avenue towards personal fame and fortune. It has always meant the upliftment of the people of Trinidad and Tobago. Service to humanity is one of the greatest acts of love and is most pleasing to Almighty God. This has been at the heart of my approach to politics and has undoubtedly helped to sustain me over the past forty years. I recommend this philosophy to those who choose to enter this noble profession.
I owe an enormous debt of gratitude to my Party, the People’s National Movement, whose founder the late and great Dr. Eric Eustace Williams has always been a guide and inspiration to me. Like all citizens, I benefited tremendously from the policies and programmes that the PNM implemented for the development of Trinidad and Tobago. It was very easy for me to identify with the vision, principles and philosophy of the Party and within its fold I found the warmth of friendship and the feeling of family, as we worked with a sense of purpose and mission for the good of our country. One of the greatest honours of my life was the privilege of serving as Political Leader of the PNM. I thank all members of the Party for their support during my twenty-three years at the helm. I intend to play my part to ensure the revitalization of the PNM and its return to the reins of government in Trinidad and Tobago.
I am of course extremely grateful to my constituents of San Fernando East who ensured that I prevailed in all election battles since 1971.It has been one of the most satisfying relationships of my life, one that goes beyond politics and which will certainly endure after the end that must eventually come to my political career.
I also thank the people of Trinidad and Tobago for the opportunity to have served for twelve years as Prime Minister of our nation. Amidst the inevitable partisanship of politics, we faced and overcame many challenges together.
I am especially grateful to the young people of our nation whose support in greater and greater numbers has always been very dearly cherished. You have been the beneficiaries of the many policies that we have put in place and we look forward to your holding the reins of power in due course.
I will have much more to say in the coming months but I thought it important to inform friends and well wishers as I approach this milestone in my life.
Thank you all once again and may Almighty God bless you and our beloved Trinidad and Tobago."
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