"We are very happy to be back home."

This was the statement made by Hazel Manning yesterday, one day after she arrived home with her husband, former prime minister Patrick Manning, who has been abroad for almost seven months seeking medical treatment.

Hazel Manning accompanied her husband to the US where he received his treatment and remained with him throughout its duration.

In a brief telephone interview with the Express yesterday, she said her husband was resting at their Sumadh Gardens, Vistabella, home.

She said no special plans were being made for his homecoming, and both she and her husband needed additional rest.

San Fernando Mayor Dr Navi Muradali said he was pleased Manning has returned.

He said, "I really look forward to working with him, (Manning) through his office as the Member of Parliament for San Fernando East and the Mayor's office. I think that his returning as the Member of Parliament will only strengthen the work we have to do in the city of San Fernando, it will strengthen the relationship. It will really assist with the development of the city. Many of his constituents who visit his office have many local government concerns, which we could now work together to address."

PNM Councillor for Mon Repos/Navet Shaka Joseph said, "I am glad to see that he is back; he is walking, he is healthy and alive."

And Manning's constituents are happy that he is back, and they hope he will be able to bring a positive change to the country.

Richard Joseph, who lives in Mon Repos, said, " I am giving thanks to the Lord that he is back. We need him to be prime minister again. With the way how things are going in this country, some things are looking a bit different, and we need Mr Manning to intervene."

Joseph said he would like to see other members of the constituency celebrate Manning's return by "having a good ceremony".

Another resident of Mon Repos said, "The country is celebrating Independence, and he is supposed to be here. I feel happy when he is around, especially with the way things are going, in terms of getting rid of the top cops and everything is in a topsy-turvy. He is supposed to be around in all of this, with his knowledge of politics.

Wendy Lewis, Protocol officer at Manning's constituency office, said yesterday there were no major plans as yet to celebrate his return, but if there were any, the media would be informed.