SAN FERNANDO – Former Prime Minister Patrick Manning has died.
He passed away at 8:15 a.m. at the San Fernando General Hospital. He was 69 years old. Manning was admitted to the San Fernando general Hospital on Monday and diagnosed with Acute Myeloid Leukemia, an aggressive form of bone marrow cancer.
In a post on his Facebook profile on Saturday, his family wrote: A”t 8.15a.m. today, former Prime Minister Patrick Augustus Mervyn Manning passed away peacefully at the San Fernando General Hospital after battling. 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. Funeral arrangements will be announced in due course”.
The news that Manning has fallen ill was announced by Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley as he spoke during the opening of the Education Ministry Tower in Port of Spain on Monday. He asked that the nation pray for Manning who was incapacitated.
Exactly what Manning was being treated for, was only disclosed by his wife Hazel on a social media post on Friday morning.
She said then that the cancer diagnosis was made Thursday evening and that Manning was being prepared to undergo surgery.
The Express was told that Manning, who lived at Sumadh Gardens, San Fernando, was taken to hospital after a dental procedure.
In 2008, he had a cancerous tumour removed from a kidney during a surgery in Cuba.
In 2004 he had a pace maker implanted.
In 2012, he suffered a debilitating stroke but continued to serve his beloved San Fernando East constituency before bowing out of politics ahead of the 2015 general election.
The day he flew to Cuba for the operation to remove his cancerous tumour, Manning told the media “I have no fear of death and therefore I have no undue concern in this matter.” (Express)
