By NEWSDAY STAFF Saturday, February 4 2012

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HOUSE TALK: Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar and Works and Infrastructure Minister Jack Warner chat casually with each other yesterday during sit...

CHAGUANAS WEST MP Jack Warner yesterday suspended his high-publicised petition to lobby for the resumption of the death penalty, a mere two days after he launched it amid much press coverage which included the mother of three murdered fishermen, crying uncontrollably at the launch at Warner’s constituency office.

In a three-sentence press release yesterday, Warner announced the suspension, two days after Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar publicly distanced herself from the petition, noting it was not part of Cabinet’s policy, and one day after the Cabinet met this week.

“Following a meeting of the Cabinet yesterday (Thursday), I wish to inform the general public that, with immediate effect, I have decided to suspend the initiative that was started to implement the death penalty,” Warner said in the release. “My thanks are hereby extended to all those persons and/or organisations that had assisted me at the launch. This is my final statement on this matter.”

Speaking with reporters during the tea break at the House of Representatives, Warner did not elaborate on the reasons for his about-turn. He hinted that his publicity campaign was designed to raise awareness of the issue.

“What I am sure is that it is more alive now than ever,” he said. “I am not disappointed. I think that what it has done, is it has opened people’s eyes and what we will do in the fullness of time is bring it (Capital Offences Bill) back on the floor (of the Parliament),” Warner said.

Warner also disclosed that he had pledged to personally take care of the families of the three murdered fishermen, whose murders were the reason for the petition, for the next six months. Saying the Government should be able to help them by that time, Warner said: “The families are destitute and they need help. I propose to help them for the next six months.”

Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar yesterday said there was no directive to any member of Cabinet over Warner’s petition. “Not at all, there is no instruction or agreement given by the Cabinet,” Persad-Bissessar said. “It is an issue of conscience.” Persad-Bissessar was speaking at a press conference at the Prime Minister’s offices at the International Waterfront Centre, Wrightson Road. At the same time she said, however, that Warner’s position was never sanctioned by Cabinet.

“That is a personal campaign, it is not the campaign of the Government,” she said. She noted that Cabinet acts collectively. “It would be foolhardy for any minister to step out of the collective position,” she said. “I would not sign a petition that was not sanctioned by the Cabinet.”

Asked whether he felt frustrated or unhappy as a member of the Government given the removal of some of his ministerial responsibilities and the halting of his ministry’s Programme for Upgrading Road Efficiency (PURE), Warner replied: “I am not unhappy or peeved in any way. I have no cause for worry. Even with the work that I have to do right now, my hands are full.”

“It’s not a case of whether you win or lose. Look I’m smiling here,” he added. Warner said he will decide in the next two weeks whether he will stand for re-election as UNC chairman. Nomination Day is February 24 and the UNC’s internal elections are carded for March 24.