(Trinidad Guardian) National Security Minister Jack Warner last night announced his intention to mount a legal attack against what he described as the “PNM-controlled” media. In a speech at the United National Congress’ Monday night forum in Debe, Warner said he had instructed his lawyers to issue pre-action protocol letters to the Trinidad Express newspaper.
Warner said he had just returned from a trip to the United States, his second in less than five months. “And more such letters are to follow,” announced Warner. “I have also instructed my lawyers, both at home and abroad, to sue to the high heavens those who are using the media to go after me and it will be court after court after court,” he added.
He said he intended to go as far as legally possible to stop “this damn foolishness.” He added: “In their misguided judgment they are free to support whichever political party they choose but in doing so they must not trample on those whom they hate by impugning their character at every turn. “Jack today, Anand tomorrow and the PM every day…this foolishness must stop and the courts are the only legal place I know to do that.”
He said there were media houses owned by financiers of the People’s National Movement (PNM) and their agenda was to bring down the Government. “They know who they are. You know who they are. Who the cap fits, let them wear it…but the truth has got to be told,” he added. He said the truth was that Government was putting things right.
He added: “We inherited a country that was in a mess. Schools, police stations, roads, bridges, everything was falling down. It is taking time but we are getting there. It is 50 years of PNM mismanagement, neglect and discrimination that we have to roll back.” He boasted of Government’s feats in education, social services, national security and sport.
He slammed trade unionists who had aligned themselves with the PNM. He said: “Trade unionists who used to accuse the PNM of union-busting, today they want a political alliance with Rowley. They declare war on a Government that is settling pubic servants’ wages but they will align the PNM who refused to pay public officers for two consecutive bargaining periods.
“Anybody who could hug up Rowley and the PNM is a traitor to you and when you see them you must chase them from in front your door.” Warner also lashed out at environmental activist Wayne Kublalsingh’s hunger strike. He said: “You cannot threaten to kill yourself if you do not have your way. It is undemocratic and selfish. It is criminal. It is wrong to disenfranchise 300,000 persons just to satisfy the selfishness of a handful.”
He said Kublalsingh was threatening to kill himself. Warner took time in his speech to focus on Opposition Leader Keith Rowley, calling him a fake. He said: “Rowley is not a man. He is a mannequin, a fake. Everything about him is fake. “I tell you that anybody who wants Rowley to be Prime Minister of this country has got to be stark, raving mad.”
