Tributes continue to pour in for former prime minister Patrick Manning who passed away this week. Although Manning rallied admirably through health challenges throughout his life, there seemed a steady decline after the 2010 election defeat, perhaps activated by unremitting stress.
As news emerged of his passing, Manning was described by the common man and colleagues in the political sphere as a statesman unmatched in the history of local politics, a champion of the downtrodden and a passionate advocate of regional integration with a vision for this nation far beyond what most of us could muster.
On the other side of the political canal, there were those who chimed in with caustic criticisms of his leadership and legacy.
Those head-butting views assume that Manning was either one thing or the other. The truth is he was both; a man committed to achieving advancement of Trinidad and Tobago society with sometimes, altogether flawed methods of reaching this objective. Boiling his legacy down to either great or terrible is a surface analysis of a life in politics and obscures the lessons to be learnt from his successes and mistakes.
Following his defeat in the 2010 general elections, political commentators argued that his autocratic leadership coupled with unpopular policies (the proposed property tax, TT revenue authority etc) turned even the "PNM 'till ah dead" against him. That could account for some leaching of support, but costing the man in the street their party's seat of power with a reckless electoral gambit was a bridge too far. Call elections early once, shame on you, call elections early twice...fyah bun you!
Many PNM supporters carrying garlands in his now-exalted name were, back then, bearing torches and hurling scorn at their once faultless leader as he left Balisier house that fateful evening.
Now resentments have cooled to the point of selective amnesia as the public reflects in sweetness and light on Patrick Manning's time at the helm. Accolades from both the man in the street and political and business titans here and in the wider region offer decidedly rose-tinted perspectives on a man who, by the close of his last term in office, had become a polarising figure. His tenures as Prime Minister, though, were characterised by noteworthy accomplishments as well as unfortunate fumbles.
Patrick Manning saw himself as burdened with great purpose. Policies attributed to him, such as the floatation of the dollar, promulgation of liquefied natural gas and aggressive tax reforms are all considered to have been among the right course corrections to stimulate economic growth.
His vision 20/20 was a blueprint for T&T as a developed society.
Between 2002 and 2010 Manning's controversial vision began to take shape in the skyline of Port-of-Spain. He was determined to have this country become a hub for financial services and an irresistible destination for foreign investment. A "knowledge-based" society were also popular, if somewhat hackneyed buzzwords of the day.
Even as he worked on so great a canvas, Manning passionately defended his social programmes (Cepep and the like) as an indispensable leg-up for society's vulnerable. But as this indefatigable man charged ahead with his masterpiece, the public became increasingly unnerved with his emerging self-portrait. His peculiar description of himself as "the father of the nation" rankled many. The public also bristled at Manning's stubborn refusal to geld Udecott Chairman Calder Hart even as troubling allegations of corruption swirled about him.
It isn't quite proper to cherry-pick our leaders' legacies. The public would benefit more from video and literary profiles of icons like Patrick Manning who have made their mark on local politics and the wider region. Such materials, which could be made available to schools, would inculcate respect for those who have sacrificed for their country. More importantly, they can instruct the society on both our attributes and failings, showing the way forward and the pitfalls that lie ahead.
Patrick Manning was a complex man and a product of a particular time in our history. He sprang from a political gene pool heavily influenced by the cult of personality of the invariably lionised Eric Williams. He led this country with the best of intentions and as a mere mortal, had successes and failures.
We can derive the most from Manning's considerable legacy by celebrating his achievements without whitewashing his mistakes. In failing to acknowledge his errors we run the risk of having our political class repeat them.
In embracing former prime minister Patrick Manning, warts and all, we can chart a course with a clear understanding of, not simply where he went right, but where he stumbled. In so honouring the contributions of this man, we take the teachings of his very human nature into the nation's future.
Ultimately Patrick Manning was human. He was a leader, a husband and a father with the same weaknesses as the rest of us. The one thing his detractors can never take from him is his purity of heart in doing what he thought best for the people of this country.