Leader of the ILP Jack Warner is denying that he is in cahoots with the PNM to avoid extradition to the United States. Warner, who is wanted on wire fraud, racketeering and money laundering charges in the US, was speaking to reporters after the ILP’s Tuesday night cottage meeting, in Claxton Bay.
Asked whether it was true he was on a mission to keep the People’s Partnership out of office by launching scathing attacks on its members for the PNM’s benefit, Warner said the Kamla Persad-Bissessar administration was not fit to hold public office. However, he denied an allegation by Oropouche East MP Dr Roodal Moonilal that he (Warner) had struck a deal with the PNM to bring down the Government, in return for protection from extradition.
“Moonilal is a clown of the highest order. If there are four clowns, Moonilal is 16. I won’t dignify that piece of foolishness. A long time now, I told the country that Moonilal is a fool,” Warner said. Pressed further, Warner added, “I have never been a PNM in my life. Not as a boy or a baby in pampers, have I ever been a PNM. Now as a hard back man, they saying I with the PNM? I have never been a PNM. Why will I join PNM now? What foolishness is that?”
Asked whether he believed the US had a case against him, Warner replied, “I don’t know. I don’t want to prejudge. But even if they pursue the case, we have a very strong defence.” ILP chairman Rekha Ramjit, who stood at Warner’s side during the interview, added, “When Mr Warner say he is not going anywhere it’s because they cannot prove any allegation against him.”
Warner agreed with Ramjit saying, “They cannot prove a single allegation. Whatever they fabricate they cannot prove. I have no cause to worry you know. They cannot prove a single allegation. So therefore what you charge me for? What have I done in 30 years? Fifa has never said they offered me a bribe. Fifa has never charged me. I have no case with Fifa, so what the US harassing me for?”