Jack to sue PandayBy SEAN DOUGLAS Thursday, August 13 2009
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Jack WarneR...
CHAGUANAS West MP Jack Warner yesterday vowed to sue Opposition Leader Basdeo Panday over allegations broadcast on a radio station on Tuesday, which allegedly had cast aspersions on the funding-source of the $309,000 that Warner has pledged to pay the wages of 54 contract workers at Chaguanas Borough Corporation (CBC).
Warner said: “I’m very incensed. I’ll initiate legal action.”
He has obtained a copy of the tape of the broadcast which has been sent to a British attorney, Mr Newman. Warner said he was also peeved by repeated remarks about $30 million of supposed UNC’s money. He was suing to answer such allegations which could tarnish his international image and said, “It’s the only thing I could do to vindicate myself. This is the last straw.”
He said he would take the fight to Panday until the UNC is reformed, adding, “I have no intention of leaving the party.”
With respect to the threats of disciplinary charges being laid against him, he said, “I’ll sue every member of the national executive. I’ll take them to the cleaners.” Warner alleged that no one has had the guts to stand up to Panday.
He claimed he had spent $3 million on Panday in 2007, including $900,000 in the “pseudo-racist” affair. Warner asked how come questions were now being asked about his money, when it had been good all these years. He claimed to have funded the cost of Mrs Oma Panday’s bail of $1 million; travel costs and hotel accommodation for the Pandays; car-rental for the Pandays’ daughters; and a laptop for Panday. Warner wanted to know how come all this expenditure was never queried, rather than doubts being cast now over funds he is giving to try to help single mothers who constitute the contract-workers.
Newsday asked Warner where the $309,000 had come from. He said it had come from the Chaguanas West constituency fund, which is run by the Chaguanas West Executive Committee. Asked how the fund is financed, he said from his friends locally and abroad, and from himself. Warner said he does not collect an MP’s salary which instead goes into this fund. “I have never bought an SUV, unlike those that you see all over Parliament.”
Warner again asked why his $309,000 was being questioned, when no one had asked about his funding of scholarships and roads and drains for constituents, and his new office being opened on Friday in Panday’s Couva North constituency. Panday yesterday downplayed Warner’s threat to sue him.
Panday told Newsday, “I made no such allegation. I said Mr Warner should disclose the source of his funds.” He said he had also inquired as to whether the grant had been made out to Warner, or another party.
He recalled requesting Warner to reveal his funding source after Warner had handed over a cheque to Chaguanas Mayor Natasha Navas.
Panday said: “I’m simply asking, who was the grantor?”
He said he had asked the question not to cast aspersions at anyone in particular, (but as a general comment). Panday said, “That’s not libellous.”
Regarding a dispute over an alleged $30 million, Panday said the matter had been documented in the minutes of a UNC national executive meeting. Asked about Warner’s claims of funding the Panday family, Panday replied that even if this was correct, that would have no bearing on the dispute over the alleged $30 million.
