PM: Jack can't help UNC win local govt elections

THE Prime Minister says former UNC chairman Jack Warner is no saviour, and his new coalition with Opposition Leader Kamla Persad-Bissessar and the National Transformation Alliance (NTA) will send TT over the precipice he claims they want to save it from.

In a television interview on Thursday, Dr Rowley said when he became opposition leader in 2010, he warned then prime minister Persad-Bissessar and the country that Warner would be a national embarrassment because of "what was commonly and widely known about his issues with integrity and honesty at FIFA (when he was its vice-president)."

He added all of this played out in full public view while Warner was a cabinet minister and acted for Persad-Bissessar as prime minister while the UNC-led People's Partnership coalition was in office.

Rowley said Warner now has the title of "international crook" over his head.

"If that is what this country sees as it's leadership, then God help us."

The UNC and NTA have formed an alliance for the August 14 local government elections. Warner announced he was joining Persad-Bissessar and Griffith at a UNC/NTA public meeting at the Centre of Excellence, Macoya on Monday.

Persad-Bissessar claimed that Warner asked her for no favours for him rejoining the UNC.

Warner boasted that together, he, Persad-Bissessar and Griffith were unstoppable.

"With Gary Griffith and myself and the best prime minister (Persad-Bissessar) this country has ever seen – that threesome – you have no cause to fear."

On Thursday, Rowley said, "The closest we came to a precipice, is where he (Warner) took us."

He observed that Warner's statements came one day after international ratings agency Standard and Poors gave TT a good rating and said the economy was moving in the right direction."

TT's security, Rowley continued, is not being threatened by gun-wielding criminals alone.

"The others. The facilitators and the participants and the beneficiaries of criminal conduct (are also a threat)."

He said, "When that gets into the political arena and is defended and supported in the Parliament, then God help Trinidad and Tobago."

Rowley said the Centre of Excellence where the UNC/NTA meeting was held has been regarded as "a monument of shame" with respect to the matters still hanging over Warner's head.

"Jack Warner has been charged with serious criminal conduct- money laundering, racketeering, fraud."

Rowley reiterated that Warner "has been accused of being dishonest with FIFA's assets and money."

He claimed that Warner "has been avoiding his day in court."

Warner, Rowley continued, "is fighting an extradition by a serious country which has laid the charges."

Warner is still facing extradition to the US for corruption charges relating to when he was FIFA's vice president.

On November 17, 2022, the Privy Council paved the way for the continuation of the proceedings to extradite Warner to the US to face the charges.

The London court held that the US request for Warner’s extradition was not unfair.

The proceedings in the local court stalled when Warner challenged the process by which the extradition proceedings against him were carried out and sought to quash the authority to proceed (ATP) signed by the Attorney General in September 2015. This was after the US asked for him to be extradited to face 29 charges of fraud, corruption and money laundering. The request was made on July 24, 2015.

After the September 7, 2015, general election, the then attorney general, Faris Al-Rawi, offered to allow Warner to make representations, but only on the condition the deadline for receipt of the ATP would be extended with his consent.

Warner refused to agree to the condition. His attorneys argued he was not given sufficient time to make representations, nor was he given disclosures of any evidence the US intended to use to secure his extradition.

The ATP gave the magistrate the green light to begin committal proceedings.

Warner is represented by Fyard Hosein, SC, Sasha Bridgemohansingh, Anil Maraj and Adam Hosein. Appearing for ASP Alleyne, who is acting on the request of the US, are James Lewis, KC, Douglas Mendes, SC, Pamela Elder, SC, Ravi Rajcoomar, SC, Netram Kowlessar and Ryan Rajcoomar.

Rowley asked, "How does that (Warner) become a beacon for this country and a savior to us?"

He reminded the public that Warner has been banned from FIFA for life.

Rowley said right thinking citizens must have a concern about what Warner, Griffith and Persad-Bissessar are attempting to do with their new partnership.

On Warner's claim that the PNM was leading TT over a precipice, Rowley said, "The closest we came to a precipice, is where he (Warner) took us."

He added that Warner's litany of woes make no one proud.

Rowley said Warner cannot cause any swing in votes in any part of the country, including the East-West corridor, to threaten the PNM in the August 14 local government elections.

He also cited Warner's electoral losses in the September 15, 2014 and August 10, 2020 general elections as proof of his depleted political capital.