Jack must go!

PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad, Monday May 30, 2011 – One of the five political parties in the People’s Partnership government is calling on Works and Transport Minister Austin ‘Jack’ Warner to resign, following his suspension from FIFA, even as the Prime Minister made it clear she is standing by him.

The Congress of the People (COP) made the call in a statement issued last night, saying that it noted “with distress” the decision of the FIFA Ethics Committee to suspend Warner, a FIFA vice president and president of the Confederation of North, Central American and Caribbean Association Football (CONCACAF), pending a full investigation into the allegations of bribery and corruption against him.

“The COP reiterates its view that a critical aspect of good governance is the maintenance of the highest standard of ethics and integrity among those entrusted with high public office,” COP Chairman Joseph Toney said in the statement.

“In this context, given the nature of the allegations and the decision of the Ethics Committee of FIFA, we expect that the Honourable Minister of Works and Transport will do the right thing and step aside from his ministerial responsibilities pending the completion of these investigations.”

The COP took that position even after Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar made it clear that even though she was concerned about the allegations, Warner must be allowed every opportunity to present his side.

“I am fully aware that events like this involving a senior Cabinet Minister will be of immense concern to the people of Trinidad and Tobago. Likewise, I am concerned by the allegations made and expect an update from Mr. Warner upon his return, which he has assured he will do,” she said in a statement issued yesterday evening.

“At this time, there is no reason for me to arrive at any conclusion regarding the allegations made against Mr. Warner...I will not prejudge the allegations against Minister Warner and, until there is evidence to the contrary, I stand by him.”

Warner is expected to return to Trinidad later this week from Zurich, Switzerland where he appeared before the Ethics Committee yesterday.

The Committee ruled that he, along with another executive and president of the Asian Football Confederation, Mohamed Bin Hammam, as well as Caribbean Football Union officials Debbie Minguell and Jason Sylvester be suspended from all football related activity until a full inquiry into the allegations had been completed.

Warner and Bin Hammam are accused of offering bribes at a meeting of the CFU in Trinidad earlier this month. The payments of up to US$40,000 were allegedly made to secure votes for Bin Hammam in his campaign to challenge FIFA boss Sepp Blatter for the presidency in upcoming elections.

Bin Hammam withdrew his candidacy yesterday, hours before appearing before the Ethics Committee