http://www.guardian.co.tt/news8.html Panday’s meeting with Mandela strictly socialMandela Foundation: *Mandela never met with Jack Warner
*He received a brief courtesy call from Basdeo Panday
*No politics discussed, no promises were made and no photos taken GUARDIAN NEWSDESK THE NELSON Mandela Foundation in South Africa says former President Nelson Mandela had no meeting with UNC Alliance chairman Jack Warner.
It confirmed yesterday, however, that Mandela did receive a brief courtesy call from UNC leader Basdeo Panday.
It said no politics was discussed, no promises were made and no photographs taken.
The Alliance leaders’ flying visit to Johannesburg on Wednesday was, presumably, to seek Mandela’s endorsement of the party’s aspirations in the November 5 general election.
This is because Warner had told supporters during a rally in San Juan on Tuesday that he and Panday were going to meet with Mandela, and made no mention of his role as vice-president of world football body Fifa.
Fifa, however, had stated on Thursday that “Jack Warner paid a whistle-stop visit to SA today to meet with Nelson Mandela as well as executives of the country’s Premier Soccer League.”
The two left on a private jet on Wednesday and returned on Friday.
But South Africa’s Sunday Times reported that Warner “was left red-faced...after being shown the door” by Mandela.
A report headlined “Fifa official ‘makes up’ visit to Mandela” said “only Panday and another member of Warner’s entourage” met with the 89-year-old statesman.
Yesterday, the Guardian established that Warner did not meet Mandela, because he did not sign an agreement that the meeting would not be political.
Ahmad Dangor, chief executive officer of the Foundation, when contacted at his office, said: “Mr Warner wanted to consider the agreement, but by the time he had done so it was too late to arrange another meeting.
“We require people to sign documents which state they will not ask Mr Mandela for anything.”
The Sunday Times got a more explicit response from Mandela’s spokesman Zelda la Grange.
It quoted her as saying: “Mr Warner did not see Mr Mandela, as he was not in agreement that Mr Mandela could not be approached to endorse an election campaign or a candidacy.”
The Times report offered no explanation of how Panday was granted an audience with Mandela.
‘No promises...Nothing’
Dangor, however, told the Guardian: “Mr Panday was prepared to sign without considering the implications.”
He said: “My staff tells me he signed (the document) and shook Mr Mandela’s hand and they had a social chat.
“In summary, it was a courtesy call. There was no political discussion whatsoever. No promises made. Nothing.”
Dangor said the Foundation had been approached ten days before for a meeting with a Fifa delegation.
“The meeting was requested and agreed on the basis of the support Mr Warner and Fifa were giving to South Africa as we get ready to stage the 2010 World Cup.
“We assumed that the delegation was part of the Fifa working group.”
Dangor confirmed that Panday arrived as part of that delegation.
Asked for his view on Panday’s approach to obtaining the meeting during an election campaign, Dangor said:
“There’s nothing to comment on, really. Many people bring guests, and as long as they’re willing to sign an agreement they can meet.”
Panday, however, when contacted on Thursday just before he was about to board a private jet back to Trinidad,
described the meeting with Mandela as “fruitful.” He spoke of a “message,” “photos” and “a lot of other stuff” to be revealed. Warner, on their return at Piarco International on Friday, said “more would unfold” in the next week.
He also dismissed media reports of a likely visit to T&T by Mandela as “fallacious.”
JACK: DON’T SIDETRACK ME
JACK WARNER, controversial chairman of the United National Congress (UNC) Alliance, sounded irritated yesterday when asked to comment on reports that he was denied a meeting with former South Africa president Nelson Mandela on Thursday.
“This is the last week before the election, and I do not want to be sidetracked by anything,” he said abruptly in a brief telephone interview.
Without commenting directly about his exclusion from the Mandela meeting, Warner chose only to insist it was he who had arranged for Alliance co-chairman Basdeo Panday to meet Mandela in the first place.
“I took Mr Panday to meet Mandela. They spoke and that was that.
“You all can publish what you want. I have no problem with that. But I will not be sidetracked.”
Attempts to reach Panday were not successful yesterday.
When the Guardian called his cellphone, a female voice said he was in a meeting. A later call was met with “Mr Panday is not in.”
Lies, lies and damn lies! Lawd fadda!
