Independent Liberal Party political leader Jack Warner says he did not bring his allegations of misconduct by Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar to the attention of the Police Service because he has no confidence in that organisation’s ability to complete investigations. In a telephone interview yesterday, Warner responded to a statement by Persad-Bissessar, in which she said Warner should have taken his allegations to the Integrity Commission or the police.
Persad-Bissessar’s statement was in response to a press conference held by Warner yesterday at the Normandie Hotel, St Ann’s, during which he alleged that close to $10 million in bribes was paid to Persad-Bissessar by two UNC financiers facing criminal charges, prior to the 2010 general election, in exchange for their freedom.
The Prime Minister dismissed Warner’s allegations as “crazy claims” and said her lawyers intended to stop the “malicious information” once and for all. Warner also linked the payment to the Section 34 proclamation, which was repealed in 2012, after it was reported that the law would see the UNC financiers escape the law.
Yesterday, Warner said neither the Police Service nor the Integrity Commission had proved efficient in dealing with investigations. “I did not report it to the police because I saw no cause to. I was faithful to the Prime Minister,” Warner said. Even if he had reported the allegations to the police, he said, nothing the police had done to date had given him confidence that they would pursue the matter further.
“Not a single investigation has been attended to.” Warner listed probes into Emailgate, Prisongate and others that the police had failed to complete over the past few years. “I would not even think of going to the Integrity Commission.” He felt the Integrity Commission had been compromised and noted that reports he made two years ago had not been addressed.
“It made no sense to bring the allegations to their attention.” Responding to remarks that Persad-Bissessar’s lawyers were on the alert, Warner said he wanted the Prime Minister to pursue legal action. “I want her to do that. I am waiting anxiously. I want her lawyers to write me and send me a pre-action protocol letter so I will know what to do.”
Since shortly after Warner’s arrest in May, following charges of money laundering and wire fraud laid by the US Department of Justice in connection with his tenure as Fifa vice president, Warner has made several public allegations pertaining to misconduct in public office by Persad-Bissessar. Warner has also played audio recordings to support his claims and said he has evidence of other misconduct.
Prior to 2012, Warner was a close cabinet colleague of Persad-Bissessar and had acted as prime minister multiple times. He was fired by the Prime Minister in the face of allegations of serious misconduct in his role as Fifa vice president.