Former People’s Partnership (PP) adviser and minister, now Alliance of Independents founder, Gary Griffith says he had been speaking to Jack Warner for several months to try and see if a bridge could made between Warner’s Independent Liberal Party (ILP) and the People’s Partnership.
“This was me on my own trying to see if I could bring about peace,” he said.
But he said that effort is now finished after the US indictment of Warner because of his perception it was due to Government.
Griffith confirmed Warner’s media conference statement yesterday that United National Congress (UNC) officials and a Congress of the People (COP) emissary had been holding talks with him over the last four months to try and get him back with the PP. He claimed this was to be the “poster boy for the East West Corridor.”
Griffith, however, said Warner’s series of tapes on the alleged ganja find at the PM’s Philippine residence were recorded and aired without his knowledge or consent.
“Everything stated on the tape pertaining to the issue related to the substance found within the confines of the private residence of the Prime Minister is exactly as I stated in my release issued earlier... I was never part of any conspiracy to cover anything,” he said.
But he added: “It shows he cannot be trusted and that anyone who has any conversation with him can be taped as he taped me.
“I now expect and anticipate that any and all conversations that I may have had with Mr Warner in the past, or present, to have been taped without my knowledge and consent, and further, I expect will be utilised as part of this or any strategy to defile and defame all in his path.
“I expect that anyone who may have also spoken to him in the past may have also been recorded without their permission and consent, which is to be noted, and to those who intend to speak to him in the future, to also be aware that he may be doing the same thing without your permission or consent and be careful of what you are saying to him, as he is obsessed with trying to destroy the Prime Minister and Government at all costs regardless of how it affects anyone.”
Griffith said he sent a statement to reporter Denyse Renne last Sunday on the ganja story and “within a few minutes Jack called me and was upset I had sent out the statement. I told him that at no time did anyone contact me and inform me of any ganja find.”
“Jack was the only one talking about this. Nobody talked to me about it and I wasn’t part of any cover-up and the tapes indicate that. The PM never spoke to me about it, nor Roodal Moonilal or the police so I took it for granted it was a rumour.”
Griffith said he held no animosity towards anyone but Warner was obsessed with trying to destroy the PM at all costs “and he doesn’t care about collateral damage and even if T&T’s international image is affected.”
On his alleged “bad talking” of the PM on the tapes, Griffith said: “I have no desire to be drawn into that debacle.”