(Trinidad Express):

The Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) and the Attorney-General have both distanced themselves from controversial statements made by Prime Minister Patrick Manning that two former UNC members now affiliated with Winston ookeran's Congress of the People are facing corruption charges and may be arrested soon.

DPP Geoffrey Henderson has not only distanced himself from the comments but has also strongly condemned them as irresponsible. Henderson has also denied that the "corruption file" of any former UNC member is currently before him, and he has said Manning was out of place to attempt to undermine the independence of his office.

In delivering his two-hour feature address at the PNM's convention at the Chaguaramas Convention Centre on Sunday that focused on attacking political leader of the Congress of the People, Manning, at various intervals, told thousands of PNM faithful in attendance: "Who is who (on the Opposition benches in Parliament). Some of them say they are both UNC and COP. That sounds like you want to be police and thief at the same time. Which is what the leader of the new party should be concerned about if he really wants new politics."