For moments under cross-examination, former national security minister Jack Warner looked agitated as Senior Counsel Hendrickson Seunath questioned his business and political ethics as the $1.2 million lawsuit brought against him by his former personal assistant, Imamuddin Baksh, began yesterday.At one point, Hendrickson, representing Baksh, suggested Warner helped supporters of his political campaign while he was minister of works but withdrew the question.
"I was just about to say that I took offence to the question," Warner responded.Baksh, managing director of Graphix Advantage Ltd, is suing Warner, the T&T Football Federation (TTFF) and the Local Organising Committee (LOC) for unpaid balances for signage his company provided for the 2012 Fifa Under-17 Women's World Cup.Taking the witness stand before Justice Frank Seepersad at the San Fernando High Court, Warner, then chairman of the LOC, denied requesting signage from Baksh for the competition.
Hendrickson tried to flatter Warner, saying he brought prominence to T&T football during his time of special adviser to the TTFF.After establishing that Warner and Baksh were once friends and neighbours, Hendrickson charged that Warner helped Baksh to get business from the LOC to provide banners and posters.However, Warner said he only told Baksh where he could go to apply for work and denied personally requesting work from him.He added that although he signed a cheque to Graphix Advantage Ltd for $98,555, it was on the advice of the LOC's CEO, Nataki Kerr.
Earlier on, Baksh was grilled by both Warner's attorney, Owen Hinds Jr, and Keith Scotland who represented the LOC. Hinds argued that when Baksh became Warner's assistant, his intention was to seek business for his company.He claimed Warner never approached Baksh for signage in August 2010, pointing out that both men never agreed on the type, material, volume or prices of signs.
Baksh maintained he and Warner had an agreement for the signs and it was made and delivered to the LOC. The matter was adjourned to March 30 when Seepersad is expected to give a ruling.
The lawsuit
Baksh claimed that in August 2010, Warner, as then chairman of the LOC, requested signage with the payment coming from the LOC.He claimed that in September 2010, he printed banners and posters and installed them at various stadiums.He said he was only paid $98,555 with another $1,262,413 outstanding. Despite a request for the balance, he claimed Warner told him that he had no more money and that he (Baksh) should write off the debt.