(Trinidad Express) – Prime Minister Patrick Manning faced an unprecedented protest outside his San Fernando East constituency office on Wednesday, involving union members pushing for him to reverse unpopular decisions amid growing public discontent. They also asked that he resign.
Manning refused to meet with protest leaders, ignoring them as he left at around 6.30 pm. He was booed by protesters but cheered by office staff.
Police SUVs were used to form a barricade to prevent protesters from getting close as a smiling Manning left.
Manning normally meets constituents between 4 pm and 10 pm every Thursday.
The protest was kept secret. The media were invited to attend an emergency general council meeting of the Oilfields Workers’ Trade Union (OWTU) at its San Fernando headquarters, and then taken by bus to Manning’s Coffee Street office of 13 years.
Union president general, Ancel Roget, said he did not bother asking for a meeting with Manning “because we don’t expect him to come in his arrogance”.