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Thu, Mar

Typography

In the eyes of Rio Claro residents, Jack Warner is seen as a man of the people, a fighter, a Robin Hood, a doer of no wrong, and a rebel with a cause.

Warner is idolised in the community where he spent the first ten years of his youthful life with his humble family. Warner, his three sisters and two brothers were single-handedly raised their mother, Stella. Residents claimed the childhood stories they heard about him has been nothing but favourable and elightening.

Warner, 72, is among nine Fifa officials and five corporate executives charged by the US Department of Justice with running a criminal enterprise that involved more than $150 million in bribes. Having contested the request by the United States to have him extradited to answer charges of racketeering and money laundering, the former Fifa vice president has been placed on a “red notice” by Interpol since June 3. Currently on bail, Warner will re-appear at the Port-of-Spain Magistrates' Court on July 9.

On his Facebook page, Warner described his mother as a “simple, hard working woman with a firm belief in God.” Warner stated that it was perhaps this upbringing which cemented his fighting spirit and led him to became one of the most successful businessmen in the Caribbean as well as a well-loved politician.

On Tuesday, a calm pervaded Elie Street, where Warner once lived with his siblings and mom in a small wooden structure. Most of the houses on the street were shut tight. The two government offices—the Ministry of Sport and Ministry of Gender, Youth and Child Development—which were opened for business, stood on the land once occupied by Warner’s family.

“Jack did not live very long here. He spent just a few years on this street. This is the story I heard when I came here to live on the street in 1960,” said one man, who identified himself as Tyson.

Tyson said during Warner’s stay in the village, he attended the St Theresa’s Roman Catholic School in Rio Claro.

Warner, in giving a brief history of his past life on social media, said in 1953 his parents moved to Longdenville where he was transferred to a primary school in that area.

“It is here I got first-hand taste for rural life, an experience that has brought value to my role as parliamentary representative,” Warner wrote.

From there, it was no stopping Warner who became one of the most powerful figures in global football.

‘He went out of his way to help people... UNC fighting him down’

On bustling High Street, near the Rio Claro Transit Hub, People’s National Movement supporter Elsa Edwards, 73, of San Pedro, described Warner as a good man who went out of his way to help people, not only in the district he grew up in, but the entire country.

“I have nothing bad to say about Warner. He is a good man,” Edwards blurted out.

Edwards said Warner was a man of the people, and she would not like to see him make a jail in his twilight years.

“I hope he gets off on the charges he is facing,” Edwards said.

The pensioner said Warner’s Independent Liberal Party was becoming a spoiler and threat for the United National Congress (UNC) who was now grasping at straws as the September 7 general election draws closer.

Nearby, 58-year-old Carol James, of First Street, Enid Village, said though she never met Warner personally, the few stories she heard in the community was always pleasant.

“I never hear a bad word about that man. He spent a few years here and never left a bad impression. Warner did a lot for football and his country,” James said.

Bharath Basdeo, one of several taxi drivers working on the hub said it pained his heart when he heard that Warner had to spend the night in prison.

“It was unbelievable for me because this is where he grew up. It’s disheartening,” Basdeo said, shaking his head in disbelief.

In the last three weeks, Basdeo said, Warner has not been looking his normal self.

“You could see it in his face....he has been walking around with a defeated and dejected look. He no longer walks with his shoulders upright. You can see worry written all over his face.”

Basdeo said Warner has been putting on a brave face for his supporters and the country. “I feel really sad for him. I don’t think he has done anything wrong.”

A stone’s throw away, Seeraj Premnarine, of Navet Village, said Warner was now a target by the UNC—the same party he funded for the 2010 general election.

“He shared his money with the party. Jack gave freely and helped many. Now the UNC fighting him down every chance.

“I like Jack. To me, he is a fighter...a rebel with a cause. I still can’t believe a man of his calibre and status grew up here. He has put little Rio Claro on the map.

“There are numerous stories on the Internet which showed that Warner grew up here. They saying he is a Robin Hood.”

Premnarine said he was not “bothered or perturbed” by Warner’s pending charges.

“As long as it is not our money he stole, I don’t care. Jack will go down in history books...”

‘Smart, bright like a bulb’

Clear Water Road resident, Samdai Sooknanan, 81, spoke highly about Warner, who she decribed as a “people’s person.”

Sooknanan’s husband Jagdeo, who died 22 years ago, was one of Warner’s primary school classmates. She said her husband often spoke about the fond memories he shared with Warner while growing up.

“They were close friends in and out of the classroom. They cooked, ate and limed together. I never heard any complaints from my husband and the community about Jack. My husband used to tell me Jack was smart, bright like a bulb, and would reach far. I live to see that. It’s a pity how he has fallen. He is good man. I don’t care what people say. I believe he’s innocent. I hope he walks free.”

Sooknanan said Warner’s love for Indians people started in Rio Claro and to this day, he still believes in them.

Sooknanan said after Warner formed the ILP, she met him in a political meeting and reminisced about the good times Jagdeo shared with him.

“I don’t like how Jack is being treated. He is not looking good. The politics getting dirty and dangerous,” said Sooknanan, a mother of 16.

‘No weapon formed against him shall prosper’

Along Guayaguayare Road, Hensley Alexander, 62, believes Warner was set up by people in the country as his charges were perfectly timed for the 2015 election campaign.

“They are just trying to tarnish Jack’s good name and pull him down to get rid of him, but I standing with Warner. No weapon formed against him shall prosper,” said Alexander.

Vendor Narine Mahabir, of Deven Drive, said Warner never turned his back on Rio Claro people.

“He gave generously. Jack pumped money into a lot of football leagues in the community. People in here profited from his wealth. Jack looked out for everybody. I don’t know him to be a bad man or villain as they are making him out to be,” said Mahabir, a father of three.

Mahabir said Warner was made a scapegoat in the Fifa scandal.

“If Warner was a White man they would not have touched him. Besides, I don’t know why the USA getting into Fifa business in the first place. I think Warner is going to fight them to the bitter end.”

Mahabir said he hoped Warner would not be extradited to America, fearing he would not get a fair trial.

“The USA will try to set him up and nail him to the cross.”

Mahabir said his father, Seebachan Mahabir, who died in 1991, attended the same primary school with Warner. He said he never heard his father criticise Warner.

He said while Warner has to face the courts to answer charges, taxpayers’ money was being wasted in Trinidad.

He said one case involves a multi-million dollar contract that was awarded for the construction of a wall and box drain in the community.

“The kickbacks people getting from this contract cost more than the wall and box drain itself. But they want to make Warner look like the bad guy when everybody filling their pockets,” Mahabir said.