Real Estate Broker Liane Ifill yesterday confirmed she rented a St Augustine house to Chaguanas West MP and Independent Liberal Party (ILP) political leader Jack Warner in 2010.
She was responding to reports yesterday which alleged Warner rented the property through her for the use of Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar during the People’s Partnership’s 2010 general election campaign. The story appeared in Warner’s Sunshine newspaper and was supported by photos of two cheques for $55,000 paid from Warner’s company, Jamad, to Your Move! Real Estate Ltd, which Ifill represented.
Ifill did not say whether she was aware the home was allegedly being rented for Persad-Bissessar, who was Opposition Leader at the time.
In a brief telephone interview, however, Ifill confirmed that she was contacted by Joanne C Mora in 2010 to find an appropriate property on behalf of Warner. She said she had suggested several options, some of which were viewed by Warner himself before he chose the home at #2 Brunton Road, St Augustine.
The St Augustine house is in a secluded area with large, gated nearby properties.
Neighbours yesterday refused to comment or answer questions regarding the house and its residents in 2010. One woman said she did not want to be involved in the current situation and hurried away from reporters. Most residents were not at home around midday when media visited the area.
However, one source said under the condition of anonymity that while he had not seen Persad-Bissessar at the home, he had seen someone resembling her sister several times.
Persad-Bissessar did not respond to a text message to her phone yesterday.
Also contacted yesterday, Housing Minister Dr Roodal Moonilal, who was also mentioned in the article, said he would not be drawn into Warner’s “circus” by responding to the allegations raised in the article.
Asked if he was concerned about the allegations, Moonilal, via text message, said, “Mr Warner’s problem is not Kamla, its Loretta.”
Moonilal was making reference to United States Attorney General Loretta Lynch, who is prosecuting current and former Fifa officials, including Warner, for financial crimes in relation to their affairs in the world governing body.
Pressed further as to whether he intended to sue Warner for defamation, Moonilal said, “I will not be drawn into his circus. His problem is Loretta Lynch, not even Loretta Lynn.”
—With reporting by Radhica Sookraj