Ralph Gonsalves says he questioned former Trinidad and Tobago Prime Minister Patrick Manning immediately after Manning called the 2010 snap general election and told his longtime friend he would have advised against the decision.
Gonsalves recalled telephoning Manning after hearing the election announcement and asking why the Trinidad and Tobago leader had not discussed the decision with him beforehand.
According to Gonsalves, Manning replied that he had deliberately not raised the matter because Gonsalves would have tried to dissuade him.
Gonsalves said Manning remained confident that he would be successful, while he instinctively believed the political conditions were unfavourable. Looking back, Gonsalves said Manning either misread the situation or received polling that pointed him in the wrong direction.
The 2010 election was called more than two years before it was constitutionally due, with polling ultimately set for May 24, 2010. Trinidad Guardian
Gonsalves described Manning as an exceptionally close friend, saying the two had known each other since their university days and communicated regularly while serving as Caribbean prime ministers.
