Political analyst Dr Maukesh Basdeo believes the charges against Jack Warner will diminish the Independent Liberal Party’s (ILP) chances in this year’s general election. He said Warner’s indictment would have a direct impact on the future of the ILP as it already had to grapple with the loss of several executive members over the past year, including its political leader Lyndira Oudit and chairman Robin Montano.
Labelling the ILP and Warner as one and the same, he said the party’s survival hanged on whether the remaining executive could find a suitable leader and field 41 candidates for the election. “Given what has happened today, I can’t see how the party could capitalise because currently there are charges against its political leader and the only ILP member in the Parliament,” Basdeo said
He said even if Warner was not extradited to the US to face corruption and fraud charges and continued to lead the party into the election, those allegations would still hang over his head. Food Production Minister Devant Maharaj said the indictment came as no surprise as Warner failed to heed Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar’s advise to clear his name in 2013 after his name featured in a damning Concacaf report.
He added: “I think we have been expecting this for a number of years now, given the number of serious allegations that has been in the international domain. “I hope that the extradition is expeditiously done and Mr Warner goes and either clears his name or stands the consequence of his actions. I think the Prime Minster really afforded Mr Warner the opportunity as she never fired him from the Government.
“She said: ‘Listen Jack, go out and clear your name and when your name is cleared, you can come back in.’ “He opted to resign from Fifa and Concacaf rather than clear his name and the irony of ironies is that while he has these allegations of corruption hanging over his head, he proceeded then to accuse everybody in the Government of being corrupt as if to distract from his own problem by putting similar allegations on his former colleagues.
“This is sweet poetic justice that the man who accuses everybody of being corrupt is now being indicted for corruption allegations,” Maharaj added.
Labour Minister Errol McLeod:
“Well I’m looking at the unfolding eve. I, like other colleagues, am not surprised at all and I hope that this particular event will put to rest all of the speculations and expectations that many might have been expressing. I think that this will have a very negative impact on the ILP. I don’t think that party will survive.”
Minister of the Environment and Water Resources Ganga Singh:
“I feel it is quite a tragedy that has befallen Mr Warner and his party. There is an indictment which is a charge and there is a presumption of innocence until one is proven guilty.
“Politically I think it is a lethal blow to the ILP. Mr Warner was ILP and ILP was Mr Warner. Only time will tell whether the party will survive.”
Works and Infrastructure Minister Surujrattan Rambachan:
“It’s a very sad day for Trinidad and Tobago and one does not want to comment on the situation because it is ongoing so we just have to wait to see the outcome of what is unfolding.”
Former justice minister Emmanuel George:
“I don't rush to judge people so I will let the court take its time to process and come to its own conclusion. Let the court rule.”
Planning Minister Bhoe Tewarie:
“All I would say is that I don’t really want to get involved. The charges has clearly been laid against people. He is one of them. I don’t know where this will all go but I am not surprised.”
Transport Minister Stephen Cadiz:
“My simple comment is what will be will be.”