T&T Govt MPs advised to tell media ‘no comment’ on FBI probe on Warner

(Trinidad Express) Members of the People’s Partnership Government have been asked to keep mum on media reports linking National Security Minister Jack Warner to a Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) probe.
The Express understands that Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar, who is also head of the National Security Council, has advised Government members that she was on top of the issue and was seeking official information on the matter.
Sources told the Express that an e-mail was issued yesterday by Leader of Government Business Dr Roodal Moonilal to all Government Parliamentarians which noted the Reuters report concerning the FBI probe and asked that no comment be given with respect to this issue as the Prime Minister had already released a statement.
Several calls to Moonilal’s cellphone went unanswered last night.
Persad-Bissessar did not chair yesterday’s Cabinet meeting.
A release from the Office of the Prime Minister stated that the Prime Minister had the common cold and her doctors have recommended bed rest.
Reuters, a reputable international news agency, in an exclusive report on Wednesday stated that the FBI was investigating alleged corruption in FIFA and named Warner’s son—Daryan Warner—as a cooperating witness.
The report noted that Warner was formerly head of the Confederation of North, Central American and Caribbean Association Football (Concacaf), as well as Vice President of FIFA.
The report stated that since 2011, the FBI has been examining more than US$500,000 in payments made by the Caribbean Football Union (CFU) over the past 20 years to an offshore company headed by top US football official, Chuck Blazer.
The report noted that Warner during that period was also head of the CFU, a position he held from the early 1980s until 2011.
The Reuters report was based on information provided by US law enforcement sources.
On the heels of the Reuters report, the Prime Minister issued a release which stated, “I will not rely on published reports in the media, but will again seek to get official corroboration of the information now in the public domain before making any determination or pronouncement.”
A senior Government official told the Express yesterday that the Reuters report was based on unnamed law enforcement sources and therefore it would be inappropriate for any Government member to speak on the issue without facts.
Another source said that the issue was “nothing new” as allegations were levelled against Warner before and to date no charges have been laid against him or any member of his family.
The Express understands further that the majority of Warner’s colleagues were rallying behind him and have lent their support.
However, members of the Congress of the People (COP) had previously made their position on Warner clear—that he should not sit in the Cabinet until the allegations against him were cleared.
The Express was told that the issue was not officially discussed at yesterday’s Cabinet meeting but there were informal talks about it.