(Trinidad Express) “I want my day in court.”
Former FIFA vice-president and Chaguanas West MP Jack Warner said last night that if the local courts rule that he be extradited to the United States, he will go.
“I want to go before the courts. If the courts say I go, I go and if the courts say I stay, I stay,” said Warner.
He warned, however, that he intends to put up a fight, saying “it will be a long hot summer”.
Warner was speaking at an Independent Liberal Party (ILP) cottage meeting in Lopinot last night.
Appearing unconcerned about the charges hanging over his head and continuous international exposure, Warner seemed focused on the upcoming general election as he announced Nigel Reyes as the ILP’s candidate for Lopinot/Bon Air West.
Warner is wanted by the US authorities on charges of fraud, racketeering and money laundering as it relates to his tenure at FIFA.
Warner said last night he wants his constitutional right to contest the US extradition through the local courts.
He said he does not need the help of the Parliament or the Integrity Commission.
“I don’t want any chairman of any integrity commission to free me through any back door,” he said.
Warner further took issue over Justice Minister Prakash Ramadhar’s call for him to forego the local judicial system and go straight to the US to face trial.
“That has to be madness and these are guys who are there in Parliament to represent you,” said Warner.
He said Ramadhar, Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar and her Government want him to give up his rights because they all know he has “mark to buss”.
Warner said when he sat in the Cabinet, no member of this Government ever spoke against two United National Congress (UNC) financiers who also fought an extradition request by the US.
He said there were never any calls for these men to be patriotic and face trial abroad.
He vowed to continue exposing his financing of members of this Government through his Sunshine newspaper.
“I ain’t touch (Roodal) Moonilal $250,000 cheque yet,” he said.
Warner claimed to have also given money to the National Joint Action Committee (NJAC).
He said Attorney General Garvin Nicholas should also be asked if he received money from him.
Persad-Bissessar, he said, received numerous financial favours from him.
Warner said he saw no wrong when he took “every single cent I have” and put it towards the People’s Partnership to free the country from the “demonic” People’s National Movement (PNM) regime led by Patrick Manning.
“Foolishly, I poured my money into that mantra ‘we will rise’,” he said.
Warner also called on the Prime Minister to clear the air on why she walked out of Parliament when he was speaking last Friday, as he questioned whether it was because of his race as he noted Persad-Bissessar said she will not listen to the offensive words of someone “like this”.
“What does she mean? I don’t want to believe that Kamla degenerated into race in the hallowed halls of Parliament,” he said.
Warner said the democracy of this country was caving in as he noted former AG Anand Ramlogan paid a shell company to investigate him.
“Dana Seetahal, I bleed for you,” said Warner.
He said further that the US will one day beg him to enter that country.
Warner noted that the United States had banned former South African president and freedom fighter Nelson Mandela, as well as India’s current Prime Minister Narendra Modi from the country and then begged them both to visit.
He urged the foreign media to stop running him down.