EDITORIAL - Warner's stench and lessons for the PM

For decades, wherever he has stood, especially with regard to football, Austin 'Jack' Warner left a stench - of the type most people associate with corruption. That, of course, has never been proven where such things are determined - in courts of law.

What was unique about Mr Warner, though, is that those closest to him seemed to lack the olfactory capacity for his range of scents. That deficiency, Mr Warner seemed to assume, was universal, particularly in Trinidad and Tobago, his home.

Accusations against him were to be denied and toughed out. Life would go on. He might even receive higher responsibilities: like last year's promotion in the Trinidad and Tobago government to the post of security minister.

Things, however, appear to be changing rapidly. Less than two years ago, Jack Warner stepped down from all his positions in regional and global football rather than face allegations of having facilitated the bribing of Caribbean soccer executives. This week, he was forced to resign from the Trinidad and Tobago Cabinet.

SCANDALOUS FALL FROM GRACE

As significant as Mr Warner's resignation was, of even greater import was that it was accepted by Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar, who, in the past, seemed to turn hoops to ensure his presence in her government.

Jack Warner's fall from grace was precipitated by a scandal over his financial stewardship during his presidency of CONCACAF.

The probe led by former Barbados government minister and chief justice, Sir David Simmons, found that Warner and former CONCACAF General Secretary Chuck Blazer used many millions of dollars of the confederation's money for their own benefit, or at least with no accountability. In one case, Mr Warner is accused of spending nearly US$26 million on a football facility in Port-of-Spain, using CONCACAF's money, without anyone knowing that it was on lands owned by his companies and without any clear documentation that the property belongs to CONCACAF.

A SORRY TALE

Sir David called the behaviour "a sorry tale of abuse", which, for him, are harsh words.

It is noteworthy that these alleged acts of corruption came to light because of the unravelling of the relationship between Warner and Blazer. The latter reported on then Asian football boss, Mohammed bin Hammam's greasing of Caribbean palms for votes in the FIFA presidential election. Mr Warner was forced to resign his FIFA vice-presidency and as head of the Caribbean Football Union (CFU) and CONCACAF, organisations he dominated for decades.

We welcome the transparency and new efforts of accountability that have come to the regional organisations that were for too long dominated by Mr Warner. This newspaper, however, does not believe the clean-up has been thorough enough or that organisations, despite the Simmons report, are willing to go all the way.

We are disturbed that some of Jack Warner's former acolytes continue to hold, or have gained, significant positions in these institutions. It is urgent, therefore, that CONCACAF and the CFU deepen the reforms, to make themselves more transparent and accountable.

The embarrassment Jack Warner has wrought on Mrs Persad-Bissessar should serve as a lesson to our prime minister, if and when she is inclined to give ministers the cover of her skirt tail.

The opinions on this page, except for the above, do not necessarily reflect the views of The Gleaner. To respond to a Gleaner editorial, email us: editor@gleanerjm.com or fax: 922-6223. Responses should be no longer than 400 words. Not all responses will be published.