Prime Minister must act on Warner issue now

Port of Spain; The Leader of the opposition Dr. Keith Rowley says the Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar has no choice but to act now and fire the Minister of National Security Jack Warner. This is in light of the report by the head of the Concacaf's Integrity Committee Sir David Simmons. 

Simmons who was a former Chief Justice in Barbados said that the body's former leaders Warner and Chuck Blazer, were "fraudulent in their management" of the region's football body. Rowley said in order to protect the integrity of the Cabinet the PM can no longer hide from this issue and must act on the situation at hand and not "provide refuge for a person in that situation." 

Mr Warner cannot be allowed to continue to serve as a minister of government, he said the PM's action is due to fear of what Warner could do to her political career, but noted the situation was detrimental to the interest of the people of Trinidad and Tobago. 

He noted it is not just a matter of individuals but one of protecting the institution of the Cabinet as well as the people. He also touched on the comment made by Communications Minister Jamal Mohammed, that the entire Cabinet stood firmly behind Warner, he said it is very depressing because it clearly shows " there is nobody in the Cabinet who stands for the values the population expects from a functioning Cabinet." 

Rowley said the accusations against Minister Warner have been going from bad to worst and the PM can no longer pretend she does not know about the issue, because it is all in the public domain. He said Mr Warner is also putting Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar in a spot when he said he is not moving.