FIFA Vice President To Be Investigated

A top Caribbean politician is calling on the powers that be to look into whether a newly appointed government minister can also keep his position with FIFA, world football governing body.

Trinidad’s opposition leader Dr.Keith Rowley, has written  a letter to his country’s  Integrity Commission asking them to  investigate  Jack  Warner’s  position as vice president of  FIFA and his ministerial post.

Rowley made the statements soon after he was sworn in as leader of Trinidad’s main opposition yesterday.

Rowley said his main focus now is to seek clarification surrounding Warner holding the two portfolios of Minister of Works and FIFA Vice president.” One of the first things I would do is to write a letter to the Integrity Commission for an opinion as to whether in fact it is proper for a Minister of Government to hold office in any organisation, especially fee-paying office, outside of the Cabinet. And I speak specifically about the appointment of the Minister of Works. I have no doubt that Mr Warner is a very capable and hard working gentleman, who has good vision and he is an asset to us in Trinidad and Tobago at the FIFA desk. But I have some serious concerns about the propriety of a Minister of Government of Trinidad and Tobago holding executive authority in an organisation, local or foreign,’ Rowley said.

Warner, who has been a member of the FIFA executive committee since 1983, was sworn-in as this country’s Works and Transport Minister two Fridays ago.

“As far as I am concerned, Mr Warner has to choose to be a FIFA executive or a Minister of Government in Trinidad and Tobago. He cannot be both,” Rowley said.

’If it is that we are changing the rules to suit an individual, powerful and useful as he (Warner) might be, this is exactly what we don’t want at this stage in our development. If we are talking about elevating our country’s growth, talking about improved accountability, talking about rebuilding of trust in government, then it must not only be done, it must be seen to be done. And as long as the potential for a conflict of interest exists, or not giving 100 per cent to the (Cabinet) office, then we starting off on the wrong foot.”

Rowley also called on Trinidad’s Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar to explain why Warner was given the portfolio despite his public statements that he has no intention of relinquishing the FIFA post.

’There is a view in this country that the Prime Minister is hostage to powerful forces, and if it is that that appointment was made as a result of the individual being who he is, then the Prime Minister has to account to us for being so opined when she should have stood up and said: ’No you cannot serve in the Cabinet as well as serve in FIFA’,’ Rowley said.

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