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Opposition Leader Kamla Persad-Bissessar has refused to confirm or deny a leaked United States intelligence report which suggested that the then Prime Minister helped script Jack Warner’s resignation from FIFA and was far more aware of the football executive’s alleged criminal behaviour than previously admitted.
(Courtesy Caricom.com)
According to the memo, Persad-Bissessar was concerned that a potential FIFA investigation into Warner’s activities might have dire implications for her government.
“As the FIFA scandal mounted, Persad-Bissessar privately pressed Warner to resign from FIFA and CONCACAF,” the memo stated, “in exchange for FIFA ending their investigations in pursuit of these charges.
“At the same time, the Prime Minister is aware of the complicated situation surrounding the US$500,000 Australian grant to Trinidad, and expects Warner’s resignation to preclude any serious investigation into the final use of this money.
“The Prime Minister was obviously only one of a group of people working to have Warner step down. But her role should not be underestimated, as Trinidad is Warner’s base and refuge in all matters of this type.”
The memo was shared with Wired868 by American journalist Mary Papenfuss who co-authored an investigative book on disgraced CONCACAF general secretary Chuck Blazer.
Blazer was Warner’s close friend but became a FBI informant and helped sink the controversial Trinidad and Tobago sport administrator. The document was undated but appeared to have been written in the immediate aftermath of Warner’s FIFA resignation on 20 June 2011.
(Copyright AFP 2015)
Papenfuss’ book, American Huckster, went on sale on 26 April 2016 and was serialised by Sports Illustrated.
The memo, which was unearthed during investigations for the book, was unsigned but addressed to former CIA deputy director James Pavitt, who is a senior advisor at the Scowcroft Group.
The Scowcroft Group, according to its website, provides “risk assessment and market development strategies for Europe, Asia, Africa, Middle East and Latin America.” The company is managed by Brent Scowcroft, former national security advisor to George HW Bush. It lists former US secretaries of state Colin Powell and Condoleezza Rice among its “principal members.”
Neither Pavitt nor the Scowcroft answered Wired868 queries as to why the company—which specialises in sourcing intelligence and contacts across the globe—was keeping tabs on Warner and Persad-Bissessar.
There was also no confirmation on whether the information was gathered by its own investigators or “gifted” to them by an FBI agent, since the US Department of Justice (DOJ) was investigating the former FIFA vice-president at the same time.
Persad-Bissessar listened to the details of the intelligence memo and did not confirm or deny any of the information. However, she asked to see the document before responding.
The suggestion that Warner hoped a prompt departure from FIFA would ensure his Cabinet survival was not new. In his resignation letter to the world governing body, Warner noted that he expected to fall back on his job with the Trinidad and Tobago government:
“With my withdrawal from service in international football, I shall, henceforth, be concentrating exclusively on my lifelong commitment to the service of the people of Trinidad and Tobago, currently as chairman of the major party in our governing coalition and as a cabinet minister in the government of our republic.”
However, the unnamed US investigator who authored the intelligence memo claimed that Warner’s prompt resignation may also have been designed to discourage any potential probe, which might have found that dirty money ended up in the UNC’s coffers.
To date, there is no evidence that any illicit funds were used to bolster the party now in Opposition.
(Copyright Frederic Dubray/AFP 2015)
The memo stated:
[Warner] is a trusted supporter and fund raiser for Persad-Bissessar, and is credited by knowledgeable individuals with an important role in the victory over [former prime minister Patrick] Manning […] The Prime Minister is, as we stated, well aware of the allegations surrounding Warner’s activities at FIFA and in CONCACAF, but she tends to view these [as] minor compared to the intense, systematic corruption of the Manning administration…In addition, Warner contributed a great deal of money (we are working on the amount) to the national campaign. In the opinion of a very sensitive source, Persad-Bissessar also understands that the bulk [of] Warner’s funds come via corruption.
The document contained a few errors and did not seem to be a final report while the investigator promised to gather more data in the near future.
In one paragraph, it claimed that Patrick Manning lost out to Persad-Bissessar in May 2011 and not 2010. While, in the following section, it suggested that Manning, who called a snap election, had resigned his post as prime minister.
However, US sources told Wired868 that they believe the document is genuine. And, thus far, neither Scowcroft nor Persad-Bissessar has disputed the allegations contained in it.
More from the memo:
By June 2011, the public reports of corruption involving Warner, Mohamed Bin Hammam, and Sepp Blatter became significant enough for the Prime Minister to weigh in on the side of those urging Warner to step down from FIFA, before the investigations turned up dramatic evidence of corruption that could not be explained or ignored.
Warner kept his Ministerial and Party posts, which allow him to continue to profit from graft. But nothing on the scale of his activities in FIFA.
Warner, according to the document, was convinced that FIFA would not pursue him after his resignation. He also expected to retain the controversial Centre of Excellence, which was funded by a combination of FIFA, CONCACAF and the Trinidad and Tobago Football Association (TTFA) money, as well as a US$500,000 payment from the Football Federation Australia (FFA).
The memo states:
Warner is extremely angry over the loss of his lucrative and prestigious FIFA position. According to knowledgeable sources, he is still coming to grips with the embarrassment and loss of revenue that goes along with these resignations.
Warner apparently does believe that all serious investigations of his activities will now cease, and he is determined to find a way to maintain his influence in FIFA, while plotting revenge against Chuck Blazer […] whom he blames for his downfall.
(Copyright AFP 2015)
The document also suggested widespread corruption by the People’s Partnership Government, which was barely a year into its term at the time:
It is also important to remember that Trinidad is in the middle of a development boom related to newly developed oil and gas fields in their waters. These developments have fostered corruption throughout the economy, and Warner’s Ministry of Works and Transportation is a major factor in this environment.
Exactly one week after the FIFA bombshell, Persad-Bissessar had her first Cabinet reshuffle and, tellingly, handed Warner’s Transport portfolio to Devant Maharaj.
Warner, due to his Transport post, was line minister for the Airport Authority when Qatari businessman and FIFA vice-president Mohamed Bin Hammam landed at the Piarco International Airport with over US$1 million in May 2011, which was mostly distributed to Caribbean Football Union (CFU) officials in a bribery scandal that rocked FIFA.
Bin Hammam travelled to Trinidad on a private jet and, according to one CFU source, was escorted out of the airport without meeting Customs officials.
Bizarrely, even as the Trinidad and Tobago police investigation into Warner’s role in the Bin Hammam bribery scandal remained open—the football administrator could still face charges under the Proceeds of Crime Act—Persad-Bissessar installed him as her Minister of National Security on 23 June 2012.
Warner remained National Security Minister until the Prime Minister asked him to resign on 22 April 2013.
Five days earlier, Persad-Bissessar met US Deputy Secretary of State William Burns in Washington to discuss “ongoing bilateral issues.”
On the agenda was also a new Foreign Account Tax Compliance Act (FATCA) that required foreign institutions to report their account holders to the US Internal Revenue Services (IRS). The IRS and FBI were jointly investigating Warner at the time.
Was Warner’s second shocking resignation another attempt by the then Prime Minister to stave off a potentially embarrassing investigation into the movement of allegedly illicit football funds?
(Courtesy FIFA.com)
Wired868 asked Persad-Bissessar if she was informed at that Washington meeting about the DOJ’s probe into Warner.
She neither confirmed nor denied this. Instead, she asked this website to compile questions and email them to her along with the intelligence memo. She promised to respond promptly.
However, when Wired868 published over 15 hours later, the Opposition Leader still had not responded.
On 19 April 2013, two days after Persad-Bissessar met Burns, CONCACAF published an integrity report that made damning allegations on Warner’s term as the confederation’s president. The then prime minister claimed this report was the reason she decided to remove the former FIFA vice-president from her Cabinet.
However, according to a former government insider, Persad-Bissessar had already planned Warner’s departure months earlier. And the last straw had nothing to do with FIFA or the DOJ.
In January 2013, the source, who preferred to remain anonymous, claimed that Persad-Bissessar was tipped off that Warner instructed his secretly assembled New Flying Squad Intelligence United (NFSIU) to spy on fellow Cabinet members. And she was furious.
(Copyright Diego Urdaneta/AFP 2015)
By then, it was public knowledge that ex-Barbados attorney general Sir David Simmons was chairing a CONCACAF committee which was investigating Warner and expected to produce a sensational report.
Persad-Bissessar, according to the source, requested further information on the CONCACAF Integrity Report and was told that it should be published in April 2013.
And the former prime minister, who was described as a non-confrontational person by nature, allegedly chose to bide her time and wait for the public scandal that would force her to sack her National Security Minister.
Persad-Bissessar confirmed she was told that Warner planned to spy on his Cabinet colleagues. But she denied that her response to the NFSIU or Warner was influenced by rumours that he intended to gather information to blackmail high-ranking People’s Partnership members.
About the rumours of spying, Persad-Bissessar admitted there had been concerns. “But, in our view, the Flying Squad was an illegal matter to start with,” she told Wired868.
Thus far, police sources have denied that the short-lived NFSIU, which never received Cabinet funding, was ever directed to spy on politicians from either side.
(Courtesy UNCTT.org)
Whatever Persad-Bissessar’s final motivation for axing Warner, the leaked US intelligence memo suggested that she had ample reason to be rid of the controversial character years earlier.
But once in government, Persad-Bissessar, according to the memo, appeared to feel that the damage from Warner’s Cabinet role could be limited. And she was willing to risk Trinidad and Tobago’s international reputation on that premise.
The memo leaves us with this:
The Persad-Bissessar government recognises that any exposure of this activity [from Warner] will only serve to confirm the view in the region that Trinidad is one of the most corrupt countries in the Western Hemisphere.
And that this corruption is tolerated, and even sanctioned by various Ministers in the government.
(Courtesy Allan V Crane/Wired868)
Editor’s Note: Click HERE to read response from ex-prime minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar to intelligence memo.
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Dont pity me you pnm clowns
Mr. Barclay this is not just about Kamla or the UNC so your question is really unnecessary. This is about people being sick and tired of any politician taking the people for fools and doing what they wish with Public monies. If the current PM were to do that there would be even more attention, suspicion and criticism. Don’t you think?
Ms. Howe I do agree that with you that if the current PM were to do that there would be even more attention, suspicion and criticism. And successive governments in Trinidad have taken the people for fools, however, this is because the people fail to hold them accountable for their actions.
I wonder if the current PM appoints someone who is known internationally to be corrupted as a minister of national security what would be view of those who are defending actions of the now defunct former PM.
No surprises ere. SMH!!
That’s what u call ugly the thiings u do and say..he’s just a perfect example of ugly…so sad..i to pity him.
I pity you, to be void of love for fellow man and restore to wishing evil on others and name calling is sad. I wish I could reach out you and give you a hug because I’m sure you don’t have any friends. The people around you I’m sure has hate in them also, for someone to be surround by all that hate has to bitter existence. You’re a lonely man, who obvious has regrets and wishes he did things differently. You hide behind your words so no one will think you afraid. A man who is get older and more afraid, who thinks he’s ugly so he calls other ugly. I pity you friend, your in my prays.
when the rain comes it will pour
Fu:k pnm people just let them suffer.I work east west an they suffering already.
Hahahahahahahahaha…ur level of stupidity is amazing..lol
Who cares what u think stupid pnm.
Y you so ugly an on fb.
All I could say is over to you now Kamla!!!!
Government Go and Government Come with the Promise to strengthen Legislation which would help stamp out Corruption, None has taken a Serious Step in Working towards such….. It’s Left to be Seen if Dr Rowley’s PNM would initiate the changes that is Absolutely Necessary if Trinis are to Enjoy a Brighter Future…..
Our Natural Resources aren’t Increasing, As a matter of Fact, it is Decreasing at an alarming rate, so to the Value of it…..
No Longer can we as Citizens just sit by and allow these White Collar Crimes to be Committed without calling for Accountability……
The Integrity Commission and FIU are 2 of the Main Arms in Fighting White Collar Crimes, Unfortunately Both Has been Severely Compromised, Proving to be just a Costly Burden to the state Coffers.
To this day, both arms are yet to bring before the Court any Major Culprits who has abused the Power Bestowed Upon them by us the Gullible Citizens…..
Our national pastime is shrugging our shoulders and burying heads in the sand. That should be an Olympic sport. Sigh.
I’m not sure what would wake us up. Some issues infuriate Trinis and they start petitions and march and what not.
White collar crime is not one of those issues.
Is not like We didn’t know or Suspected any of this all along, Unfortunately Our Culture is so Tolerant with Corruption, it allows Us to Conveniently Forget these Issues Rather Quickly…… Imagine the US is going at Lenghts to dig up all of this and here it is We aren’t even hearing of an Investigation in Trinidad.
I blame us the Citizens though for Our Lackadaisical and Tolerant approach Towards Corruption in this Country, We tend to get Conveniently Blinded due to Political Affiliation, causing Us to remain mute while White Collar Crimes Continue to Strive…… For Years Upon Years We have been Hearing of Corruption in High Places in this Country, Million and Million of Dollars Unaccounted for Under Robinson, Manning, Panday, Manning, Kamla, with only Panday facing the Court and Being Sentenced due to that Airport Scandal in the 90’s, Imagine to this day Ishwar Galbaransingh and Steve Ferguson (2 Major Contractors on that Airport Porject) Employed to build that Airport of which Hundreds of Millions was Stolen, is still Manipulating through the Loopholes in Our Justice System with the help of People in High Places and yet to face the Court for the Crimes Committed in Building that Piarco Airport….
Calder Hart, Ishwar Galbaransingh, Steve Ferguson, Jack Warner just to name a few, are some who has been benefiting from our Corrupt System and People in High Places assisting in Manipulating Our Vulnerable Justice System, Using Every Legal Loophole (of which there are many) available, to bide their time……
To put so much innocent african men in prison during the state of emergency UNC government discrimination towards African who put her in office hope those African talk how’s on 104 .7fm who insult their own brothers an sisters for ah food smell the cury
Wow! More propaganda and manufactured writings to hold the public interest while the stabilization fund is being raped !
All that’s happening now is to sidetrack the population and mislead them so d present regime cud hoard more money from the fund
Hahahahahahahahaha..really that’s what u boil it down to..lol
Is the PNM put it there. Not the UNC. Yuh fass an outta place. Mind alyuh business
And I suppose it’s the PNM’s private money idiot?
The PNM didn’t put the money there! Where they get it? From up the ass? That is hard work by the citizens of this country , many of whom are without a job now and the same PNM doing nothing about it. Bunch of idiots only thinking of their friends and family ..
yes because Kamla and her 41 thieves pillaged the Treasury for 5 years and especially the 3 months before election but u ain’t saying nothing about that but the PNM using funds which was put in place for times like this and u calling it rape……yall UNC real real sad yes!!!
PNM people never have anything intelligent to say. That is the people’s money they’re stealing. Not their own…
If the treasury was empty where all the money they wasting now, came from? People losing their jobs, no medicine in the hospitals , no funding for autism and other disabilities … But money jumping up in a carnival fete cruise … Money to bail out they friends business … Steups for 5 years this country was happy and the average man had a comfortable life.. In 9 months everything gone.
Wow it’s the same ole bashing and division taking place all over and over again. Let me say something as simply as I can. Instead of using your smart devices and computers to spew hate, negativity and ignorance it’s in all our best interests if people of T&T would do some research on the history of our economy and seek resolutions that are beneficial during strong and weak economic times.
http://thecommonwealth.org/our-member-countries/trinidad-and-tobago/economy
I am fed up of kamala she is a bad nightmare this woman makes me sick dont know when i will ever see the back of her this woman did too much evil too this country she lock up so much black african u saw how she dealt with jack warner what ever happen with arnel roberts with life sports when will we ever see politicians getting lock up the country not going good nobody getting arrested what about the fire in w.a.s.a nobody get hold for that what about houses land for blackman black people need contracts what about african radio station,emancipation place blackman expo what the fuck happening is only 10 days Dr Rowley better help the black people like himself, unc kamala help her people u afraid of her man help your race something got to happen this rounds.
She tooks his money and spit on him! ….Kamlalibaba!
so she passed him to resign… so what? I don’t get the point of this article
:-/
With the characters involved in this story, it is a feasible scenario. No one has debunked the existence of the NFS and it seems to have died down until resurrection. Lasana, you seem to be happy with the information in your article which, as you indicated, has not been refuted. KPB asking for written questions and a copy of the memo reminds me of the deafening silence of the then government when Dr R was talking in Parliament about emailgate. Silence by that side is telling as it would have been very easy to deny it. Their policy has been to look at information to see how and whether it affects them and then, to answer or send out one of their little or big red herrings.
When they cannot deny, then …
Is there no one in authority at immigration who can confirm Bin Hamman failed to declare himself?
I spoke to the Opposition Leader twice yesterday on the phone and sent an email. She had ample time to state her side or give a denial if she chose.
I spoke to the person who was sent by Warner to greet him on tarmac. And, years later, police still have not spoken to that person. Yet they tried to close case more than once.
If not a ‘banana republic’ we are now pretty close. And I’m not being pithy: It’s very disturbing how no one seems to administer anything.
Judy-ann Stewart…isn’t the flying squad issue under investigation?
Yes but it has died down. When last has th CoP mentioned it?! Wasn’t it one of those that KPB’s favourite policeman was investigating? It must be there right next to the email investigation.
Honestly, there have been so many ‘investigations’ that I forget. But I don’t entirely understand the concept of an investigation being assigned to a particular senior offcer, as they sometimes accumiulate lots of leave etc so may be out of system more than in, possibly resulting in delays.
What has to happen? Who has to die? Or be killed? Apart from Dana, for us to ever get serious about investigating and prosecuting white collar crime in this country?
The day citizens get serious about accountability and put aside partisan politics. So you have your answer.
Marcus Daniel have a read
The New Flying Squad bit, although, just a rumour is extraordinary.
I thought the bit about the potential use of the New Flying Squad, if true, was really… I don’t know the word…
I would like to say that the mere thought of a National Security Minister using the police as his private sleuths to gather information for the possible purpose of blackmail against his own party is an extraordinary thing.
But, in this case, is it really?
Well well well….
There is no surprise here as KPB would have known before the elections about JW’s involvement in these activities.
Lol. Lord, dem woman and dem again. She sit down seething just waiting for the right moment to go in for the kill. Lol.
But so many issues with this.
Wonder if Jack would neither confirm or deny too…
Bravo US Intelligence Service, please release more information.
Double hmm
wait wait .. it have people stupid enough to say move along ?? wTF
No need to tag anyone as stupid. Some folks may not fully understand the implications and others will always want to defend the indefensible.
what is indefensible? Is it so hard to give an answer rather than imputing motives or assuming superior understanding.
i just unfriend the fools… dont got time for these kinda fools
Nice read hm
Our five (and a half) years of madness.
More than that yes.
Kamla kamla kamla everything kamla who Rowley have answer to 2.5billion and he and invert can’t say what they going to do with the money and didn’t Rowley and imbert say it have no money so how they get that you body about Rowley and the PNM how come nobody striking no protest eh
You need a brain! It would help if you understood what you were talking about!
Can’t believe you even bothered to reply David Addison. Lol
Two and a half billion of OUR money gone but not a word because is PNM do it. Steups…
David Addison that’s the same thing I said lol
Kamla gul u have ah lot to answer for…if not to man but to God…won’t ever want to be in ur shoes….
Hahaha u didn’t take the lil time to read and understand what this about, u just hate UNC that much,
Did u read the whole article, because I read it twice…and I haven’t seen anything where kamla was an angel..and i understand everything that was being said…
That’s right!
Hate will destroy you.
Do u know me? I’m not a UNC supporter…the only set of people i see hate destroying is them in the UNC..lol
hmmm!
The heat is still on…
Nothing has come out of this so far and I have my doubts that anything ever will.
Seems the US has the info…question is…what are they going to do with it. Whether this alleged memo is real or not, it hasn’t told us anything we did not know or suspect. But we seem to accept that persons of a higher economic or social class in Trinidad are beyond question. We seem to accept we cannot demand transparency and accountability. What is the penalty for false IC declarations or failing to declare? Where are the tax laws being reformed? Note campaign financing to be addressed within 5 years. Let’s be real. TnT not going to do anything about any of these issues. And Jack not going anywhere to sing anything-how long Ish and Steve tie up the system? The slow state of our justice system can be a blessing or curse, depending on where you sit.
It is a reminder that so many high ranking people could be vulnerable where Warner is concerned… And then some.
More like what are we going to do with it. USA aren’t the world police. This is an example of how badly off we are.
We can’t even police ourselves. And then we want to ask people to respect our rights as a sovereign nation. Steups.
I have my doubts too. But if they did get Jack to the USA and he sang… God knows how many people would be in trouble
Unfortunately, I agree Kendall. Our leaders, over the years, have been tolerant of corruption and many of our fellow citizens seem quite accepting of it. Hopefully, Dr Keith Rowley, upholds his promise to follow through once there is solid evidence.
Them really good yes. Steups.
We need Jim Gordon from Gotham
Firstly, this is not official US intelligence information conducted by any official US intelligence agency. It is unsigned and allegedly sent to a person at a private organisation, the Scowcroft Group. Yes, they may have been contracted by an official agency but that is unknown and unless document is signed and goes through official channels it is spurious at best. This is not evidence of anything and is probably more attempts to paint KPB and PPG in a bad light. Was there corruption in the last admin, yes of course, name any gov’t in the history of TT without it. But was it at the level of previous and the current PNM admins, I would suggest not. The PNM propaganda machine did it’s job in convincing people of such but the facts don’t suggest the kind of corruption and mismanagement that we have seen in the past and are already witnessing with this new bunch of politicians in charge.
Seems like you are still asleep!
A very deep sleep
Was SIS, Anand, section 34, window weed-like substance reported, room 202, Point Fortin highway sqandermania, bogus claims about Dr. Rowley in Parliament, $400,000,000.00 in fees for anand’s bogus quasi-Attorney General’s long arm creating multimillion dollar lawyers from the National Treasury for imaginary services and resources, the death of Dana Seetahal; were these and the myriad of widespread corruption theft sewage and others comparable with any time in our history?
You must think that our population was born in the last five years! Not to mention their almost complete anihilation of the national treasury before being voted out of office!
Don’t insult my intelligence!
David I assure you no one is insulting your intelligence ????
All I could say is for those who believe that this came from some serious intelligence agency in the US. Lol well wake up, you really think the CIA or NSA would have time to compile a document which looks like it came from some makeshift website.
this looks like something rowlie would concoct…and swear it was true…like his infamous emailgate scam.
The nerve of these ppl still trying the defend the most incompetent irresponsible reckless administration in the history of Trinidad and Tobago. The KPB administration. This countries biggest disgrace.
My question is: if she pressed him to resign from FIFA, so what? I really don’t see what’s the issue? What did she do wrong?
I strongly suggest you read the piece again, slowly. Take each paragraph and analyze what it says then let us know if you still don’t get it.
ive read it .. cindy ..
I asked a simple question. I didn’t ask for suggestions as to what I should do, nor for comments on myself. Why is it so hard to answer my question? What did Kamla do wrong?
Niala, just start with keeping someone in cabinet who she believed earned the bulk of his revenue from corrupt activities.
And that some person was her main fundraiser for the 2010 election campaign.
I’d suggest you start there.
I was addressing Niala Catherine.
Thank you. Now, at the time there were rumours of FIFA corruption, but no-one could prove it. Karla would have been wrong to fire someone on a suspicion, so she did the best thing. Tell him to resign his FIFA post. You and I know that Eric Williams had senior cabinet members who had been dogged by corruption suspicions and he never fired them.
You didn’t hear what I said to you Niala. And I am not talking about Eric Williams here. I’m saying that Kamla believed Warner earned the bulk of his earnings from corruption and kept him.
If you believe someone is a crook would you give them keys to your house? And how do you suggest you find evidence of wrongdoing?
I called Kamla and Fuad Khan after Warner’s racket in Haiti. They said it is allegations. I said I have the evidence.
Do you think they asked to see it? The TTFA said it had the evidence.
Do you think they asked the TTFA to see the evidence?
Warner remained in Cabinet for two years after that.
And you want to tell me that Kamla didn’t have anything to act on? And you’re serious right?
Jack Warner was actually under investigation because the DPP felt there was enough smoke to warrant a police investigation.
But not enough eh? All rumours? When did they stop being rumours?
He is still a free man. Does that mean Kamla should never have fired him?
What was different when she fired him as opposed to the years before when they were rolling?
Lasana Liburd How do you know what Kamla believed? You are a mind reader? There were allegations against Warner but you cannot fire someone on the basis of allegations. That’s just not human justice. You can allege anything about anyone. Their boss doesn’t have to, and shouldn’t, act on the basis of allegations. Karla was not in a position to investigate these allegations – they involved international dealings. She probably (I’m guessing) gave Warner a choice: stay with FIFA or stay with the government. If I’m not mistaken, Kamla eventually fired Warner when he came under FBI investigation. That makes sense. At that point, a major US law enforcement entity had raised questions about Warner’s honesty and it was prudent to put him out of the government. Secondly, the principle is the same regarding John OHalloran and Williams. O’Halloran was a big pappy in Williams’ government when everybody was saying he was thoroughly corrupt. You can’t have one rule for the PNM and another rule for another party.
I find this is all a storm in a teacup, so I probably will not continue this discussion.
So Niala now you are suggesting that you didn’t read it in truth. I didn’t see I believed. The intelligence memo said how it arrived at such a conclusion with Kamla as its source, not me.
Secondly, I have nothing to do with O’ Halloran or defending nonsense in whichever party it appears.
Thirdly, it will always be an allegation if you refuse to look the proof in the face.
Fourthly, so Kamla respected the FBI more than the local police investigation that started since 2011? Are you now going to defend Kamla putting a man under police investigation as her National Security Minister?
Fifthly, what was Chandresh Sharma guilty of? She fired him though right? And Mary King? And Colin Partap?
Sixth… I really should stop. I don’t intend to try to convince anyone of anything.
I try to get information and people are free to do with it as they please. 😉
Lasana, I went back and read your article before writing my last post. That’s the second time. An allegation remains an allegation until some body capable of acquiring and assessing the relevant information makes a judgement. That couldn’t be Kamla. If Warner was committing crimes on an international front it had to be an internationally and well-equipped body to investigate them. If someone were operating locally, then the prime minister could examine the facts and fire or not fire or whatever action he/she deems appropriate. I’m sorry that I cannot agree with you. You are a good writer but this piece is, in my view, of a lower standard than your normal publications. Peace out.
Hence, why our country will remain with middling leadership.. There are too many who keep leadership standards and expectations lower than our nation can afford..
Can’t win them all Niala. This post is based on a memo that is unverified. I don’t hide that fact.
It is too important to ignore. But that doesn’t mean it can be proven as fact. It can’t.
People can read into it as they like.
Ms. Maharaj is really digging in with regards to her defense of Kamla, and when that seems porous, comments on Eric. I don’t think you’re debating the same things, Lasana Liburd
Roger I don’t think so either. I have to concede that one!
Lasana Liburd I admire your patience. I generally avoid stupidity. They have their uses but this is not one.
Folks, I don’t get into futile personal arguments on FB or anywhere else. If Lasana Liburd doesn’t want people raising questions about his posts he only has to say so and I will desist. (Though I will find it amusing that he criticises others in his posts but can’t stand criticism himself). I think it is unwise to encourage this tendency to call people stupid when they disagree with you. I think (just my opinion) that if you want to build a nation out of the wreckage left behind by colonialism, you need to encourage communication between people having different viewpoints. That’s how development occurs. In the bush-bush, you only talk to people of your own tribe who agree with everything you say. In the modern cosmopolitan world you discuss things.
the idea that words like ‘modern’ and ‘cosmopolitan’ mean more ‘civilized’ than ‘bush’ is at some core fundamentally the issue too
I agree, Roger. I’m not comfortable with the notion that bush life is as desirable as modern life so I may be at odds with some ideologies running around in TT (and elsewhere as well). Life in the bush was short, brutish and nasty – in my view.
“unverified”. Why do I find these words troubling ? I going and write and print an article saying Lasana Liburd beats his wife. His wife is fearful and ashamed and does not want to admit it. And o, say the article was leaked by CID 🙂 hmmmm…. I wonder who I will get to post the unverified information ?
I think successive leaders of both parties have overseen corrupt practices and allowed people to get away with the people’s money from the treasury and otherwise. Hopefully, we do not absolve any of them and try to hold them accountable. It is shameful that noone has been tried and jailed for Brian Lara stadium, Guanapo church, Lifesport, or any other boondoggle project which has taken a toll on our treasury, national reputation and collective psyche. Let’s call a spade a spade. Corruption and corrupt people are taking advantage of all of us. That would be a good start to helping rebuild from a “wreckage” in my opinion.
Brian Jordan, each opposition talks about it. When said oppositions becomes government in power, they do not amend laws to prevent the things they were complaining about when they were in opposition. I wonder why ?
Weakness and deceit in equal portions, I suspect. It doesn’t help that the citizenry is tacitly underwriting their support of each party over and over. To me the national psyche is beat down and missing the fire to hold politicians accountable for moving the country forward in the context of meaningful constitutional reform, open and transparent government, etc. If we get that fire lit man, we will be on our way. I truly believe that.
Brian, I’m not sure about your perspective. Two points. You talk about trying and jailing people who have done corrupt things. I find this tone smacks of revenge. If we are honest we will admit that access to power leads to greedy impulses in most people. So how to deal with this? You need institutions of governance – and those take time (centuries) to build. I have lived in Western Europe for nearly 30 years and observed the network of institutions that guard the public interest – and yet there is often some corruption case that needs investigation. People don’t talk of jailing here, the disgrace is enough and the reputational damage that prevents further involvement in public life. So I don’t think it makes sense adopting a defeatist tone. We haven’t yet created institutions that will help democracy work smoothly. But it’s quite a task, and you just have to keep trying.
Whilst I agree that we have to grow, I also believe that accountability and jail go hand in hand when it comes to corruption in our paradigm. It is not an apples to apples comparison you make. Having lived in the US and visited Europe, before moving back to Trinidad, it is clear to me our leaders are “hollow”. They lack the moral fortitude to walk away when they breach the public trust, and as such must be be policed.
They not more hollow than anyone else. Who in TT displays more integrity? The press is worse than the politicians, the lawyers evil, many teachers slack and lazy, parents negligent, stepfathers disgusting…
So do we carry on and accept that?
Eric, I didn’t find the note scribbled on a bathroom wall. I actually can say more about why so many people believe it to be authentic in several countries. But sadly that would expose a source.
So I just have to leave it at that. I can understand some degree of skepticism. But I have to protect certain sources.
I think you can read between the lines.
I spoke to Kamla twice before publishing. She could have laughed and said those allegations are preposterous. But she didn’t.
What she did was wait to see when the actual story went up. Probably to see if the Scowcroft Group DID talk to me and what else I had.
She contacted me yesterday on it and I will do a follow up.
noted.
The problem with our society is that we makes excuses for politicians base on our own bias. If we at the core believe in integrity whether it be Kamla, O’ Holorun or whoever else we will craft no defence for them when they rob the state. We simply will demand resignation and justice, but the truth be told we can’t some of us because the very characteristic is not a living being in our core personality.
Brian Jordan you have to accept the truth. What you will do? Make up fictions? You do what you can, that’s all. I rather think that the problem with Trinis is that they are impatient. They want to wave a magic wand, and ‘puff’ Trinidad turn into Sweden. No, it takes work, thinking, co-operating, trying out various things. What 3rd world countries have actually transformed their society after Independence? Singapore and…. ???
If Singapore can do it, then I submit it is achievable. I will not accept that we cannot move the ball forward, but agree that we may need to be patient at the risk of serious upheaval.
Brian Jordan I do think we are getting there. Though the ppl are few in number who may voice their disgust. . .as our ppl get more educated, as social media gives more of us a voice and world systems and approaches are more visible soon politicians would be forced to be more accountable. The voices are rising.
I pray that you are right..
Yes Brian Jordan we just got to hang in there and challenge the stethoscope.
It’s interesting to me that folks are either saying they don’t get it or don’t care. KPB is in Opposition. She was and is a part of the governance of the country. She may well be running for PM again. So it matters not to some that her past wrong doings could again be repeated while in charge? Should we not know everything about all the underhanded deals that were made so that we’re able to make informed choices in the future. While they may be alleged now the truth will eventually come out. This is part of the reason the country’s in the state it’s in. It’s called willful blindness.
There are so many things in there that are alarming. The suggestion the last Gov’t might have campaigned with laundered funds, the possible intention to misuse the police, apparent efforts to shield an alleged criminal…
Anyone who sees nothing in there that turns their stomach is desperately trying to keep the blinds down.
“Suggestion” “might”…. No fan of Jack, but when the Feds have you those words don’t exist. The expose done in the NY Daily News about Blazer when the story first broke was not from unsigned documents. AG Lynch was on record stating what the crimes and evidence were. They waiting on Jack in Brooklyn. They have stacks of evidence to confront him with. Next.
Hmm…
who cares will anything be done …no so lets just get on with the business of our nation in the HERE and NOW not HEAR SAY and THEN some..
The here and now involves attempting to avoid prosecution
oooooo ..let’ see what my crystal ball says… hmmm.. strange ..ZerO ..
So she promptly was advised to file a law suit against Jack to attempt to distance herself from her ongoing entanglement.
If anyone believes any trini politician can interfere with fifa’s business then their level of stupidity is scary
Right
PNM propaganda at work once again. Wired 868 has always had a PNM slant to their ‘reporting’ whatever that is.
Where the attempt got him? They buried him.
A trini literally ran an made an attempt to over throw fifa with a black arab to add to it lol. I wouldn’t doubt what trinis are capable of.
Love this article .
Anybody who knows how the football mafia works will know that once they want to get at you , they first gather as much DIRT on you . They then use it as leverage for you to do their bidding.
What the *beep* !
Consistant with all her other politically deceptive and fraudulent pre-election national activity, eg. – her manfactured claims about Dr. Rowley and his removal from parliament in her dying political moments of her disasterous reign as T&T’s Prime Minister!
Fraud and deception were the hallmarks of her ascendancy.
What kind of woman is this
This is such interesting reading, but I wish the memo was signed. Just more of the same in terms of allegations and I would really would like to see these things taken to court and dealt with and people make jail…..follow the money!!!
FIFA is a corrupted organization and anyone with average intelligence will not be interested in anything disgraced CONCACAF general secretary Chuck Blazer have to say, because when everyone was thiefing and having a good time no one said anything…SMH.
Seems like the only person who didn’t know that was drunkin kamlalibaba!
One thing is for certain. Whatever she did will not be as bad as what this government is going to do with this country. 9mths in and they think they still on a honeymoon. All the best to them.
Ah boy! The chickens are coming home to roost. And with their full bellies it looks like soon they will be emptying their bowels all over this chicken coop!