Warner demands criminal action over claims Government is bankrolling Jennings

By Duncan Mackay
British Sports Internet Writer of the Year

May 5 - Jack Warner, the FIFA vice-president, has written to the head of Trinidad and Tobago’s police demanding they investigate allegations the Government is bankrolling British investigative journalist Andrew Jennings to discredit him ahead of the country’s elections later this month.

Warner, the chairman of the opposition United National Congress (UNC) in Trinidad, has claimed that he is a victim of a “dirty tricks campaign” being run by Prime Minister Patrick Manning.

Warner has supplied the police with several e-mails alleged sent between Christian Torry, the PR firm for both the Government and the People’s National Movement (PNM), and Christopher Harvin of Washington-based firm, Sanitas International.

They were allegedly copied to Trinidad and Tobago Ministers Conrad Enill, Jerry Narace, Neil Parsanlal, Maxie Cuffie and Steven Valdez and Warner claims that they show that the Government were behind a speech by Jennings at the annual Offshore Alert Financial Due Diligence Conference in Miami yesterday.

The letter, sent by KR Lalla and Company on Warner’s behalf, said: ”This is a wilful, calculated and coordinated attempt by Tory, Harvin and senior members of the Government of Trinidad and Tobago to maliciously defame the character of our client at a volatile time, when the public is being courted by both political parties to win their trust and support by making promises and undertakings in the forthcoming General Election.

“The innuendo created by the content of these e-mails is that our client is engaged in corrupt practices and imputed and or by implication that our client is dishonest, untrustworthy and engages in criminal conduct and activities.”

Jennings has produced a series of investigations into Warner, including claims that he has failed to fulfil promises to the players who represented the country at the 2006 World Cup in Germany and pay them bonuses of up to £80,000 ($122,000) each.

Earlier this week, Jennings (pictured) claimed that FIFA President Sepp Blatter was running a covert campaign to force Warner out of the world governing body.

Warner, who is who is also President of CONCACAF, said: ”He [Jennings] has been obsessed for the past eight years, he has failed and continues to fail…that’s the nonsense that comes from Jennings and he is supposed to be a journalist.

“This morning Mr Blatter sent me a response from what he saw on the newspaper, he said that of course, is a piece of nonsense.”

Manning denied that the Government were behind any dirty-tricks to undermine Warner.

He said: ”The pressure is coming on Mr Warner on all sides and he is beginning to crack.

“So he saying all kinds of things and you will get more of that from him.”

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