By Cecily Assoon Monday, May 30 2011

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PM'S VIEW: Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar speaks about Jack Warner's suspension at a media conference held yesterday at Penal. She is flanked b...

THERE have been no findings of guilt against Works and Transport Minister Jack Warner, Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar said last night as she said the Government will stand by Warner until he returns to the country and gives a full report on the latest FIFA developments which have seen him suspended.

However, the Prime Minister said she was “concerned” by allegations pending against Warner.

The Prime Minister spoke with reporters at a hastily organised media conference at Penal where she had been attending Indian Arrival Day commemorations at the constituency office of the Oropouche West MP Stacy Roopnarine.

Persad-Bissessar disclosed up to last night Warner had not tendered his resignation and she had not asked him to.

“I am fully aware that events like this involving a senior Cabinet Minister will be of immense concern to the people of Trinidad and Tobago,” she told reporters, reading from a prepared statement.

“Likewise, I am concerned by the allegations made and expect an update from Mr Warner upon his return, which he has assured he will do.”

But she added, “at this time, there is no reason for me to arrive at any conclusion regarding the allegations made against Mr Warner.

“At this time I will not prejudge the allegations against Minister Warner, and until there is evidence to the contrary, I stand by him.”

The Prime Minister said an interim suspension was not akin to guilt.

“A provisional suspension is not to be equated with a finding of guilt, far less a sentence based on a finding of wrongdoing,” she said.

“It is a fundamental tenet of the rule of law that a man is innocent until proven guilty. This right is enshrined in the constitution of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago and is an important pillar in our system of justice.”

“And so, the decision by FIFA to initiate a provisional suspension of its vice president Jack Warner, pending investigation, is not a determination of guilt but part of a process that we trust will be fair and unprejudiced. The process must now be allowed to go its full course since as I said, a person is presumed innocent until proven guilty.”

Persad-Bissessar said the Government has no knowledge of the dynamics at FIFA.

“FIFA is an international sport body that is not part of the Government of Trinidad and Tobago; we therefore have no knowledge about its procedures and the dynamics of its unique internal politics,” she said.

“It would be unfortunate if we made premature adverse judgment and pronouncement on a matter that is under investigation. This would be contrary to the spirit and letter of the laws of our land.

“A son of our soil who served this nation faithfully at that very football organisation and who was instrumental in leading Trinidad and Tobago to its very first World Cup qualification just a few years ago must be allowed every opportunity to present his case against the allegations made about him,” she said.

Questioned by reporters, the Prime Minister said she would not speculate on the outcome of the matters against Warner. She said Warner e-mailed her yesterday stating he would give a full report upon his return tomorrow.

Government Chief Whip in the House of Representatives Dr Roodal Moonilal yesterday said the issue of Warner’s suspension could be discussed at the PP coalition party caucus this week, which is due to take place before Wednesday’s sitting of Parliament after Warner returns on Tuesday.

Hours after FIFA’s ethics committee at Zurich announced that it had suspended Warner pending a full investigation into allegations of bribery, Moonilal said the Government was looking at the issue “with interest” but would wait to hear Warner’s full report on the matter upon his return to Trinidad and Tobago.

Outgoing political leader of the Congress of the People, Winston Dookeran, said the situation with Warner was a “rather sticky wicket” but also said he would await a full report.

“I would like to get a full report,” he said. “But from what I have heard thus far and what has been explained to me, it looks like a rather sticky wicket.”

Dookeran said he was sure the issue of whether Warner should leave Government would be considered by the COP. Some high-ranking COP sources yesterday indicated that Warner should be made to resign.

On Friday, Attorney General Anand Ramlogan said the Government would have to take action if a determination of guilt was made. Ramlogan did not respond to calls or messages yesterday.