A media melee was the best way to describe the scene outside Parliament yesterday, as embattled former Fifa frontliner Jack Warner fled from foreign media reporters who were manhandled by some of his companions after Warner refused to speak to the foreign press.
Foreign media personnel had come to T&T from Sky News in the UK, Associated Press (AP), Agence France Presse (AFP) and Al Jazeera to interview Warner on recent international events, including the US Justice Department’s move to indict him—along with other Fifa officials—on charges ranging from alleged bribery, corruption and racketeering to fraud.
Warner is now before the court following the execution of a provisional warrant last week and is also on Interpol’s “Wanted list.”
Yesterday, Warner had gone to the Parliament to participate in debate on a motion by Government concerning variation of 2015 finances. This involved shifting unused sums from certain divisions of Government to other areas to mainly fund payments and other matters up to September 2015. (See Page A5).
But Warner, who arrived late for the 10 am parliamentary sitting, was met by reporters outside the Parliament. In that episode, a camerawoman from AFP fell to the ground in her pursuit of Warner. She told the T&T Guardian that Warner’s bodyguard told her that she had “done that to herself.”
Other foreign media personnel—reporters and a producer—later joined local reporters in the parliament chamber, focusing on Warner, who sat through the morning’s debate silently with his head down. A big, burly man, part of his entourage, sat close by in the public gallery.
Local parliament reporters from the T&T Guardian, Express and Newsday sent Warner a note requesting an interview. But he sent back a note with the reply: “Regretfully I put a halt to all media interviews and I do thank you for your understanding.”
During the lunch break, local and foreign reporters then attempted to speak to Warner as he left the Parliament.
David Dowden, of London’s Sky News, asked Warner if he could speak with him. Warner tersely replied that he was in his Parliament and “I wouldn’t do this in your Parliament. Don’t do it in mine!”
Warner was escorted by police as he left the Parliament, and his companions—people who appeared to be his bodyguards—then surrounded him as he left through the parliament’s doors. It was the first time Warner’s companions had acted like bodyguards at the Parliament. When he arrived on previous occasions he had willingly spoken to local media and answered queries freely, mainly commenting on the People’s Partnership.
But yesterday, leaving the Parliament in the presence of the foreign media, Warner—companions closely following—didn’t seem as forthcoming.
As local and foreign media followed Warner away from the Parliament, Dowden attempted to speak to him. However, Warner’s companion, in a white T-shirt, loudly and harshly warned Dowden off, pushing his open palm in reporters’ faces and declaring, “No comments, no comments, no comments!”
Dowden persisted, “Excuse me, Mr Warner, why won’t you explain?...”
Warner’s companion, still blocking Dowden, insisted, “No comments, no comments!”
Dowden protested, “Don’t manhandle me...please.”
Dowden again asked Warner why he wouldn’t speak.
Warner’s companion, pushing him off bodily, bellowed, “No comments! No comments! No comments!”
Dowden asked him, “Will you stop pushing me please?”
The other large man at Warner’s side asked Dowden, “Why you doh go in yuh own country and behave like dat?”
AP cameraman Josh Rapogle took up the questioning as Warner’s group attempted to push Dowden aside.
“What do you have against Sepp Blatter?” Rapogle asked Warner
“No comments! No comments! No comments!” shouted Warner’s companion, pushing Rapogle’s equipment aside.
Rapogle warned, “Don’t touch my camera.”
He again pressed Warner, “What do you have against Sepp Blatter?”
Dowden also asked Warner, “Mr Warner as a Parliamentarian, do you think it’s right for your companions to assault me?”
Warner’s assistants replied to Dowden, “Move! Move! Move!”
“What gives you the right to assault me?” Dowden tried again.
He asked Warner, “Mr Warner why won’t you talk to us...if you’ve got nothing to hide, why won’t you talk to us?”
Reporters followed Warner to his car, still attempting to ask questions after he was seated inside, to no avail.
Warner didn’t immediately return to Parliament after lunch, but turned up later and contributed to debate on the variation motion, criticising Government heavily.
He also spoke about “exposing the Government” in his Sunshine newspaper, in response to which Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar said it was offensive to hear him speak about good governance and “condemning corruption,” whereupon she packed up her things and walked out.
No official extradition request yet—Nicholas
American authorities have not yet presented a formal request for former Fifa official Jack Warner’s extradition to the US, Attorney General Garvin Nicholas told reporters yesterday.
He said nothing had occurred to show that T&T would do anything but co-operate with the system in the issue and the courts would decide if Warner should be extradited, adding that it wasn’t for him to decide.
Asked by US reporters about Warner’s claims pertaining to Fifa funding and the T&T elections, Nicholas said Warner had made a lot of accusations over the years that had not been substantiated.
On Warner’s claims of “damaging” information about the Government regarding Section 34, Nicholas said if he had any evidence it should be taken to the police and the Integrity Commission, which was also part of T&T’s investigating structure.
Nicholas said Warner hadn’t presented his office with evidence of his claims and he wasn’t interested in anyone who made threats.
“That’s seeking headlines,” he said.
Nicholas said Warner was receiving the same treatment and procedures as Ish Galbaransingh, Steve Ferguson and others.
“We’re following it to the letter,” he said.
Nicholas also said if Warner had a genuine concern for his life he should go to the police, who would assess his vulnerability and provide security if they felt it necessary.
PP House leader Dr Roodal Moonilal, addressing Warner’s claims, said, “Mr Warner is a desperate man and this is a case of desperation leading to disillusion, I hope he co-operates with authorities and seeks to clear his name.”
Moonilal also said TTFF president Raymond Tim Kee yesterday made a “very irresponsible statement and failed to provide any evidence of any activity he claimed. I can’t remember the last time the UNC had a dinner banquet. I hope it wasn’t a private function and Mr Warner tried to defraud TTFF by claiming it was a UNC matter.”