National Security Minister Warner: State funded Shaq’s visit

The Government paid for former NBA player Shaquille O’Neal to come to T&T to launch the Hoop of Life-The Sweat 2012 project on Saturday at Beetham Gardens and Marabella. This was revealed by Minister of National Security Jack Warner when he spoke with reporters yesterday during the March for Jesus 2012, held by the Roman Catholic Archdiocese.

Warner said the project is a joint effort among several ministries, including National Security and Housing. The first prize for the tournament is $1 million. He gave the assurance that the Government will not be in debt to anyone for the celebrity’s appearance. “It was funded by the Government. The actual cost and details haven’t been worked out as yet but I know at the end of the day we will not owe anybody and no private interests will be involved,” he said.

The tournaments will take place in six-month intervals over the next three years, he said. Warner used the opportunity to send a warning to members of the Highway Re-route Movement that if they are illegally occupying state lands, they will be removed again once the Commissioner of State Lands makes a request.

“I’ve been advised that they have relocated and they have impeded state lands very close to the highway and if that is correct they ought to be removed,” he said. Warner said only the Commissioner of State Lands can determine who occupies state properties. “Namdevco is an arm of the state. It is on state lands, and we shall be guided by the Commissioner of State Lands,” he said.

He explained that the process is different to have the protesters removed because they are now on state lands. Warner challenged the group to build their camp around the Prime Minister’s residence and added that when that failed, they should camp out in front his home.

“Let them try and when they fail to do that, pitch a camp outside my residence and when they fail, pitch a camp outside Minister Smith’s residence and when they fail pitch a camp outside Minister Partap’s residence,” he said. He added that this does not mean that he is backing down from the issue of having the protesters removed but his actions would now be guided by Commissioner of State Lands.