(Trinidad Express) Congress of the People (COP) political leader Prakash Ramadhar has called on Jack Warner to be a patriot and hand himself over to “Uncle Sam”.
His call has gone international as the BBC also reported Ramadhar’s views on the ongoing Warner/FIFA scandal yesterday.
Warner — former FIFA vice-president and Government minister, leader of the Independent Liberal Party (ILP) and Chaguanas West MP — is wanted in the United States on charges of fraud, racketeering and money laundering in that country and Trinidad and Tobago while holding the position of vice-president of FIFA.
Last Wednesday he was placed on Interpol’s most wanted list.
Ramadhar’s call follows that of Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar, who last Friday urged Warner to cooperate with the US authorities, saying he was bringing shame and scandal to T&T.
The US Department of Justice has made a request to the Office of the Attorney General’s Central Authority that Warner be extradited to the US to face charges.
At a news conference at COP’s Flagship House in St Clair yesterday, Ramadhar admitted that Warner’s attorneys can drag on his extradition case for years here and it was best for Warner to hop on a plane and face the heat in the United States where he is wanted.
“If it is that Mr Warner cares about Trinidad and Tobago, then he should go there and have his trial held because I am a lawyer and I could tell you, for many years the innocent always rush to an early trial,” said Ramadhar, the Minister of Justice and Legal Affairs.
“One’s lawyers have unlimited ability to stretch things out, so it can go for an extended period while Trinidad and Tobago suffers and that is why we are asking to short-circuit that…at the end of the day we don’t want any technicalities, we want truth and as a lawyer I can tell you sometimes the truth pays a heavy price by the delays that could be put in place, so it could go for a very long period of time,” said Ramadhar.
He said the controversy surrounding Warner was not a problem for the United National Congress (UNC), the COP and even the People’s National Movement (PNM), but an issue that affects the country as a whole and the solution lies in the heart, conscience and hands of Warner to hand over himself to the US and “let the chips fall where they may”.
Last Wednesday, Warner said he had complied a high pile of documentary evidence as it relates to FIFA and its president Sepp Blatter, a FIFA financial link to the People’s Partnership, Section 34 and information on the Prime Minister.
Ramadhar had called on Warner to bring the evidence.
Yesterday, Ramadhar said Warner should take his fight to the United States and stop hurting the image of this country.
He pointed out that Trinidad and Tobago is a nation of “loving people” with a high level of forgiveness
The country, he said, was becoming infamous these days because of Warner and his FIFA cohorts.
There is a battle, he said, for truth and full disclosure and Warner was using his popularity in this country for his self-interest.
“Trinidad and Tobago is not Jack Warner,” said Ramadhar as he asserted that the COP, from day one, had taken a potion on Warner and insisted that he be booted from the Government when allegations of corruption were levelled against him.
He said when Warner refused to attend FIFA’s ethics committee hearing following the Sir David Simmons report which found that Warner was engaged in financial impropriety, he (Warner) had “crossed the line” and it was felt he should no longer sit in the Cabinet.
“What we are seeing today, however, is Mr Warner using all that he had gained in the past, that is the loyalty of many in society and his ability to become a victim in their eyes, to further his personal interest at the detriment of the interest of Trinidad and Tobago,” said Ramadhar.
Noting the words “The truth shall set you free”, Ramadhar again called on Warner to lift the burden he has placed on this country.
“If you love Trinidad and Tobago, I ask you to go to your trial so we can hear what the facts are and not what you say they are.”
Ramadhar said this country’s image has been hurt, but in the long run can be determined based on the conduct of Warner.
Questioned on whether Warner was subject to any local investigations, Ramadhar said a complaint was made to the police with respect to the alleged bribes Warner and former Qatar football head Mohamed bin Hammam made to members of the Caribbean Football Union at the Hyatt Regency in Port of Spain in exchange for votes in the 2011 FIFA presidential election.
Ramadhar said he expect the authorities to take action as the evidence comes.
Ramadhar said further that the issue of campaign and party finance reform will be a priority in the new term of the Government.
