As of midnight on Thursday, April 8, President Max Richards - in accordance with the advice of the Prime Minister - dissolved Parliament; opening the way forward for General Elections.
The difference in reaction between opposition and ruling Party supporters was startling, but all wanted to know Why?
Why now? Why would the Prime Minister risk losing Government with not even 3 years of his five-year term behind him?
Why? Why when the country can still call on record revenue and a commanding majority in Parliament?
The analysts are pinning it on the no-confidence motion; or Calder Hart. But as Chris Rock asked when speaking on the Columbine shootings, "Whatever happened to crazy?"
It's quite possible Manning is just a nut. A lunatic.
But, though it may be crazy, perhaps there is method in it. Consider this...
Suppose you're Manning and you have the preliminary findings of the Lindquist investigation into Calder Hart and UDECOTT. It looks bad; and Mr. Manning knows charges are certain to be laid and he has been fingered as Mr Hart's benefactor.
At that point it suddenly hits the Prime Minister; the PNM will lose the Elections if they wait five years, and worse yet, in a few months time, there is a definite concern that his own Party will finally realise what all have said, that he, Mr. Manning, is the millstone 'round the PNM's neck.
He thinks farther ahead, what would happen if his Party turns against him? Well they'd see new leadership, wouldn't they. The weak, even acting bravely, needs leadership.
Who would they turn to, he ponders? Dr. Keith Rowley!
Now if you were Prime Minister Manning you'd know that is your worst case scenario. So how do you stop that? You call a General Election!
It's a win-win scenario for Manning. Because either way, he terminates Dr. Rowley's political career.
He can either reject Dr. Rowley as a candidate, or approve him and force Dr. Rowley to defend, on the hustings, the very leader he has battled against in the Parliament.
If by some miracle the PNM wins, then Manning would have a clean slate with a dirty plate.
If the PNM lose the Election, Manning still wins, because Rowley now has to stew as an Opposition MP with little hope of ever becoming Prime Minister.
Even if the PNM then name Rowley as Opposition leader, Manning would have achieved what he wanted.
And that's why the Prime Minister called the General Elections. It's all about staving off the inevitable. Manning may yet move from crazy to evil genius.
Labels: Calder Hart, Patrick Manning, PNM, Trinidad General Elections
