SOURCE: Medgar Evers College, CUNY
The Hon. Patrick M. Manning, Prime Minister of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago, was honored by Medgar Evers College on Wednesday, September 26, 2007 with the conference of a Doctor of Laws degree - Honoris Causa. The ceremony took place at 10.00 a.m. in the Founders Auditorium.
The Hon. Patrick M. Manning, Prime Minister of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago, was honored by Medgar Evers College on Wednesday, September 26, 2007 with the conference of a Doctor of Laws degree - Honoris Causa. The ceremony took place at 10.00 a.m. in the Founders Auditorium.
At the occasion Prime Minister Manning addressed the audience on “The Role of Trinidad and Tobago in Shaping Regional and Global Affairs.” Trinidad and Tobago, a liberal democracy located in the southern Caribbean, is a political leader in the region. The country is a member of the Caribbean Community and Common Market (CARICOM)- a regional organization aimed at the ultimate integration of its member economies- and also the Seat of the Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ)- the recently established regional judicial tribunal.

“Medgar Evers College welcomed Prime Minister Manning in the spirit of ongoing international exchange. His visit is yet another indication that our work here at Medgar is receiving worldwide recognition,” says Dr. Edison O. Jackson, President of Medgar Evers College.
The College has been a venue of choice for several government dignitaries speaking on issues of global import such as Director General of US Commercial Services Israel Hernandez, who spoke on the Bush Administration’s Economic and Trade Initiatives.
About Prime Minister Manning
The Honorable Patrick Manning was elected to his third term of office as the Prime Minister of Trinidad and Tobago on October 7, 2002. Born in San Fernando in 1946, Mr. Manning entered politics in 1971, at the tender age of 24, emerging victorious in the General Elections as the People’s National Movement candidate for the Constituency of San Fernando East.
Under two Prime Ministers, young Representative Manning served as Parliamentary Secretary in Ministries ranging from Works and Transport, Industry and Commerce, to Petroleum and Mines. He became a full-fledged Minister in 1981 holding the Industry and Commerce, and Information portfolios, then Energy and National Resources. In 1986, he became the Leader of the Opposition and within two months was elected to the post of Political Leader of the PNM.
In 1991 Mr. Manning was elected Prime Minister of Trinidad and Tobago. Four years later he returned to opposition after a loss in the General Election of 1995. In 2001, after a deadlock in the House of Representatives, Mr. Manning was appointed Prime Minister by President Arthur N.R. Robinson. A General Election was then held on October 7, 2002 and Mr. Manning again emerged victorious. He is currently the Prime Minister and the Minister of Finance. Prime Minister Manning is well-respected in the international community for his vision as a new-style Caribbean leader dedicated to propelling his nation to developed country status by 2020, while simultaneously contributing to the development of fellow Regional States.
His accolades include the Guyana Institute for Democracy “Democracy Prize” for his outstanding work in upholding the principles of democracy in the Caribbean region (December 2003) and the Caribbean - Central American Action’s “Star of the Caribbean Award,” for his unwavering support of Caribbean neighbors in their time of distress (December 2004).
Mr. Manning attained his primary and secondary education in South Trinidad followed by his B.Sc. Degree (Special Honors) in Geology at the University of the West Indies, Mona, Jamaica.
He is married to the Honorable Senator Hazel Manning, current Minister of Education, and they have two sons — Brian and David.