Housing Minister Dr Roodal Moonilal has accused his former Cabinet colleague Jack Warner of being a spoiler and an agent of the People’s National Movement (PNM).
Training his guns on Warner at the United National Congress’s (UNC) Monday Night Forum in Couva, Moonilal told the audience that the embattled former National Security Minister, who is facing extradition to the United States over allegations that he committed fraud during his tenure as vice president of Fifa, was no longer interested in winning power or a seat in the September 7 general election.
He said because of his legal troubles, his goal was to remove his former leader Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar at all costs, and Opposition Leader Dr Keith Rowley was using him to fight his battles.
He said Rowley was staying quiet but was using Warner to divide the vote.
“He is using Jack Warner to fight his battle. Rowley is using him to divide the vote, to be a spoiler in this election.
“Jack Warner has committed every muscle in his body, every drop of blood to remove Kamla Persad-Bissessar. His goal is to remove Kamla Persad-Bissessar, but he cannot score that goal because he got ban from football,” he told the cheering yellow-clothed audience.
He also condemned Warner who he said was taking two supporters and 40 members of the foreign media to socially distressed places in the country. “He (Warner) could walk in Beetham and he could walk in Marabella, but he can’t walk in America,” with reference to his Fifa troubles and ability to travel abroad.
At the first gathering of faithfuls at the United National Congress’ home base in Rienzi Complex, Moonilal made reference to the avalanche of files Warner was purported to have against him, the Prime Minister and Attorney General Garvin Nicholas, including files about marijuana being found at the PM’s private home.
“He say he has a file on Garvin, he has a file on Kamla, he has a file on Moonilal. Well, the people of Oropouche East tell me to come here and tell him is only one file he need. It is called the Nicholson file.”
Producing a tool, he explained to the audience, “Tonight I bring a gift for Jack Warner. This is the only file that he need. It is a Nicholson 12-inch file and this is a file he need to saw his way out of an American jail.”
Moonilal also took a swipe at the Trinidad Express, accusing that newspaper of bias.
“We have to take note of the role of the Express and we have to take note of what I call the Mack/Jack combo, where it is alleged that persons involved in the Trinidad Express have been fingered by the FBI in money laundering.”
He said the Express had been unfair to the UNC and accused it of having eight commentators dedicated every week to attacking the PP Government.
Moonilal called on supporters to reject Rowley, dubbing him an angry and clueless politician.
He said Rowley had embarrassed himself by having to apologise to President Anthony Carmona over the timing of a letter requiring consultation on the appointment of two members of the Integrity Commission.
“This is a man who wants to lead this country. He has no plan. He has no vision.”
He said the first thing Rowley wanted to do should he get into power was raise his own salary.