Opposition Leader Dr Keith Rowley has filed a motion in Parliament for National Security Minister Jack Warner to answer questions as it relates to his former role as adviser to the T&T Football Federation (TTFF) and the allocation of funds for the 2006 World Cup football campaign.
As he addressed a public meeting at Embacadere, San Fernando, on Tuesday night, Rowley recalled he was on a committee appointed by then prime minister Patrick Manning to entertain a request for assistance from Warner when the local team qualified for the World Cup.He said he was shocked about the revenue and expenditure in the budget presented by the football body and recalled: "My jaws dropped when I saw the published figures for what the receipts were from the sponsors."
Rowley said with numerous audits now taking place, "the chickens are coming home to roost."The PNM leader, who has added to the calls for Warner to step down in light of several allegations during his involvement in football, said: "The presence of Jack Warner in the Cabinet of T&T and as acting Prime Minister and confidant of the Prime Minister is damaging the interest of the people of T&T."
Rowley said with all of the controversies surrounding Warner, he has gone on the attack, attacking everybody, including the media, yet Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar has failed to deal with the situation."Today, the journalist profession in T&T has been declared public enemy number one by the Minister of National Security but I am not going to lead this PNM and take that silently," he added.
Rowley said the private motion, which is to be debated in the House on April 26, "is also asking the Parliament to reject the Prime Minister's behaviour in not treating with Jack Warner and his issues that are embarrassing and damaging the people of T&T."He cautioned the Government that its "time was running out," as it had just 24 months again before the next election was due.
On the issue of election, Rowley questioned the timing of an announcement by Local Government Minister Dr Suruj Rambachan that over the next three months, the Government would undertake the repair of approximately 800 roads at a cost of $310 million"The programme is expected to start at the end of April and run for three months and with a straight face and huge belly, the man says it is not for local government elections," Rowley added.