Probing reporters at the last Post Cabinet Press Conference were told that it would be unwise to disclose too much on an issue as sensitive as security.

Prime Minister Manning’s silence has since been feeding all sorts of speculation on the real purpose of his trip to a country grappling with discord between two religious groups, a political crisis, and hostile neighbours.

There is some speculation that Manning was seeking advice on how to deal with terrorists, just in case some fundamentalist local Islamic group take revenge for the recent destruction at the Jamaat al Muslimeen by State security personnel.

While some would dismiss this as far-fetched, the Opposition United National Congress (UNC), highly critical of the prime minister’s trip, noted that the Israeli government is presently in crisis, and questioned Manning’s need to visit there at this time, but Manning dismissed that, saying: “None of the scheduled meetings were cancelled because of those developments.”

Manning also indicated that he was not aware that the coalition that formed the Israeli government had collapsed when he left Trinidad, which suggests that the secret trip was on the cards even before he left for Malta.

The fact that the TnT prime minister was still able to meet with “all the relevant persons” says something about the state of Israel: There are mechanisms in place to ensure continuity and efficient government during a crisis.

Worse, it demonstrated an ignorance or naivety to international current affairs developments, which could have resulted on a dumb political or personal security risk to visit Israel with respect to matters that are not known to be of any particular national benefit, save and except for the guise used as national security. This is probably why Israel has been able to make economic and social strides despite being in a state of constant civil war.

While there is some credibility in Manning’s claim that he went to Israel to window shop for security systems, it is hard to believe that he would not take a closer look at how government could operate smoothly despite shaky coalitions, some of them hastily put together simply to remove an incumbent.

Here in Trinidad and Tobago, the man who once vowed to fight alone, win alone, and lose alone has on more than one occasion been forced to acknowledge the need for dialogue and compromise with the Opposition as the electorate remains split down the middle.

Lately, Manning has been having a hard time finding common ground with the Opposition on how best to combat crime.

UNC Chairman and Opposition Leader Basdeo Panday whose support he needs to pass anti-crime legislation, has once again signalled his intention to boycott government proposals to fight crime through police reform.

While Manning spoke to reporters last Thursday, word out of Israel is that long-time rivals Prime Minister Ariel Sharon and elder statesman Shimon Peres buried their differences, with Peres announcing his support for the incumbent Sharon, who in turn paid “lavish tribute” to Peres.

Peres, a former prime minister, announced his separation from the Labour party, his long-time political home. An AFP news report out of Jerusalem said that the move “capped a month of unprecedented political turbulence.”

Incidentally, TnT’s Prime Minister said he knew nothing of this “unprecedented turbulence.”

Sharon had a week earlier, turned his back on his colleagues in the right-wing Likud to set up another organisation with aims to achieve the impossible: Grant independence to the Palestinians and achieve a lasting peace.

Sharon has also made it clear that he is looking forward to working with Peres, describing his former rival as “a man of vision.”

While Trinidad and Tobago’s political scene is not as turbulent as Israel’s (at least at the party level), its hard to not wonder exactly what’s playing out in the minds of Manning and Panday.

With both leaders facing crises (Manning’s popularity on the wane in the face of rising poverty and crime levels and Panday grappling with sections of the UNC who want to see his back), are they seriously considering softening their resolve for the good of Trinidad and Tobago, and themselves?

Did Manning go to Israel to get a first hand look at how two different political ideologies could come together and engineer an indigenous political solution, as the TnT electorate has been telling them to do through the ballot since the 17-17-2 in 1995 and 18-18 debacle in 2001.

Israel’s Peres, who incidentally has never won an election despite having held almost every high office in the Israel, called for establishment of “National Unity Government” after deadlocked election results in 1984.

Does he remind you of anyone?

Is PM Manning seriously reconsidering his position on Constitutional Reform?

Would Panday seek to solve some of his party’s problems, and in the process, solve some of his own, through some unique compromise?

Would Trinidad and Tobago finally see a reduction in crime and the removal of other insurmountable barriers to progress because our leaders have finally come to their senses?

It is healthy to dream.