Ah jes e-mail dis letter tuh all de Newspapers in T&T:
Dear Dr. Fuad Khan, MP for Barataria/San Juan
I read with great dismay your defense of Austin Jack Warner’s ticket monopoly in the T&T Mirror. My God man, how dare you insult our collective intelligence with your pusillanimous attempts at defending the indefensible?
How can you claim that the “attacks” on Jack Warner were both unprecedented and unwarranted? What made you construe that the questions posed by Mr. Lasana Liburd were some kind of hitherto unprecedented attacks on poor Jack Warner? And what latent discrimination are you referring to? Is Mr. Liburd white, East Indian or of some race different from Mr. Warner?
Furthermore, how can you say that Mr. Liburd is somehow acting as an agent for the powers-that-be? Based on what evidence Dr. Khan? I found the three part expose by Mr. Liburd to be well written and succinctly to the point. He did ask for comments from the Warners as well as Mr. Oliver Camps and others involved with the Warner Group of Companies. But I get ahead of myself.
There were no attacks on Mr. Warner, virulent or perceived. What is above board about Simpauls’ possession of sole rights to sell World Cup tickets? Were they awarded that sole right through the tendering of a bid? Were other companies afforded the opportunity to submit bids to the TTFF? Initially Mr. Warner stated that Simpaul 'sTravel had paid the TTFF $500,000TT dollars for the exclusive rights; that was later amended to “Simpaul's paid $500,000 plus euros to an unnamed European tour operator for their ticket allotment.” This does not ring true, why the incongruities? Simpaul’s advertisement in the local media stated plainly: “Ticket or Leave it.” Implying that they and they alone had the rights to sell T&T’s ticket allotment!
Mr. Warner defended himself by saying that the TTFF did not yet receive their ticket allotment from FIFA and that even Simpaul's did not yet have any tickets. How then does he explain the Simpaul’s advertisement that stated that there will be no refunds on the $30,000 package sold? How can he sell what he does not have? His reputation and honesty was further compromised by Mr. Camps’ and Mr. Gerald Baptiste’s, (a Simpaul's officer and coincidentally the project manager for the World Cup package), both disavowed knowledge that Jack Warner was involved with Simpaul's.
You ask why Jack? And attempt to justify his improper business dealings by pointing out that some banks and other financial institutions recommend particular legal firms, as if recommendations are somehow illegal. Dr. Khan, instead of writing apologists letters to the T&T Mirror, should you not use your position as an MP to lead some investigations into what you perceive as illegal activities or unfair business practices and business monopolies?
Dr Khan, it is because of people like you that T&T is a country where people of different races get along and why justice and fair play do not vary from race to race and class to class. You an East Indian standing up for Jack Warner who happens to be a black man, illustrates that what is good for one is good for all. No one is angry with Jack Warner making money off legitimate business dealings, regardless of his colour. What you are leaving out is the unethical practice of a FIFA V.P. selling tickets to the World Cup, so I refer you to the FIFA code of ethics concerning such business practices. Fair is fair Dr. Khan, rightly said, but just how in the name FIFA was the process to award the exclusive rights to Mr. Warner’s company? Were you present during the process? If not, what makes you think that Lasana Liburd had no right to question the process?
I am surprised that you believe that Jack Warner is the reason why T&T is in the World Cup, especially since you provide no kudos to the players on whose feet and heads victory was won. I know many people who are amazed that we made it to the World Cup in spite of Mr. Warner and the often bungling TTFF!
The only sacrificial lamb in this whole ugly affair happens to be the always broke TTFF! Instead of keeping its entire allotment of World Cup tickets like other federations around the world, they decided without benefit of transparent bids to award the right to sell those tickets to Warner’s business.
Jack Warner brought politics into this sordid affair and you are doing your best to keep politics and now add race to the mix. The true story will show that when Mr. Anthony Hartford of All Sports Promotion asked the TTFF about purchasing tickets, he was told that all tickets had to be obtained through Simpaul Travel. He further revealed that he was in cordial discussions with Warner’s son Daryan and Mr. Baptiste but did not feel that his company would be sold any tickets, because the packages offered by Simpaul's did not include ground transport, sightseeing and airfare. Dr. Khan, you really believe that we, the dissenters, are against Jack Warner making an honest buck? Because he is a black man? Nope, that is far from the truth Dr. Khan we don’t want anyone making a buck through extortion and unfair business practices. We want transparency from the government and from all businesses and organizations. Don’t you think that is a reasonable request Dr. Khan?
I thank God for people like Lasana Liburd, maybe he should be the MP for Barataria/San Juan. Jack makes the money, the TTFF gets a paltry $500,000 and if we are to follow your advice we can Ticket or Leave it ent Dr. Khan?
