JACK IN A BOX
Ad hoc parliamentary agenda kicking out FIFA work
Ria Taitt (Political Editor, Express)
Sunday, January 27th 2008
The continuing conflict between Chaguanas West MP Jack Warner, a football jefe with a massive constituency outside of Trinidad and Tobago, and Leader of Government Business Colm Imbert, over the parliamentary agenda has escalated.
Government's decision to move the debate on the crime motion, which was initially scheduled for Carnival Friday to this Wednesday, has provoked the ire of Warner, who has had to forego at the last minute a commitment to attend an international meeting in Croatia. This, after having paid US $58,000 for a first-class ticket. Warner has argued repeatedly "in the interest of efficiency", for a set parliamentary agenda.
An irate Warner ("I have never been as angry as I am now"), told Sunday Express that he had been told by Imbert in Parliament last week that the crime debate would begin on February 1 (Friday). "We protested because when you come into town on Carnival Friday, you can't get back out (because of the traffic, the crowds and closure of roads). His (Imbert) response was 'We are in the majority and we are in charge'."
Warner said the UNC accepted this and since it had been decided that he (Warner) would be the next speaker whenever the debate resumed, he made arrangements to suit.
"I was scheduled to arrive in Croatia on Tuesday for the Congress of the 53 countries of European football where I am meeting the president of FIFA and all the other confederation presidents. Up to yesterday (Thursday) they asked me if I am coming. I confirmed 'yes, I am'.
"Furthermore, they agreed that I would be allowed to leave the Congress at noon on Thursday, take a flight at 2 p.m. to Paris, fly to Montreal, then to Toronto and leave there at 11 p.m Thursday night to arrive in Port of Spain at 5.36 a.m. on Friday and join the debate at 1.30. I paid my airfare and then one afternoon, Imbert calls Mr Maharaj to say he moving the debate from Friday to Wednesday," Warner said.
Warner, who has a pilot project with Maharaj to use private security in crime-ridden communities, said because he wants to take part in the crime debate, he cancelled his trip. He contended though, that Wednesday is just as inappropriate a day for the debate because all of this (Carnival) week, nobody would be listening (to what is being said in Parliament). And it is being done deliberately by Government to kill the debate (on crime)," he said.
"No country can be run this way," he said, adding that he would not be surprised if Imbert said now that the Wednesday sitting is off. Noting that the UK, Australia and Canada had an annual agenda, Warner called for an agenda for at least next six months. "Even one month! Is that too much to ask?" he questioned. "They feel they 'spiting' me? But when I leave here, is not Jack Warner, is Trinidad and Tobago!" he thundered.
He said when he goes to Parliament this Wednesday to speak on the crime motion, "on my mother's grave, they are going to pay! It is going to be the mother of all debates!" he roared.
In response, Imbert stated that he was tired. "I have had enough of Mr Warner's whining, moaning and complaining! He is behaving like a child!" Stating that Government, based of the exigencies of the situation, could decide to call Parliament at any time and that these were the rules, Imbert asked:
"Why did Mr Warner take up this job to be a member of Parliament when he had all of these important things to do in the football world? He needs to make up his mind on what he intends to be-a big football jefe or a member of the House of Representatives."
On Warner's suggestion that Government was "spiting" him, Imbert countered: "If Mr Warner believes that Government schedules its business with him in mind, then he has delusions of grandeur. That is not how we conduct our business".
Imbert said Government chose Wednesday as the day for discussion on the crime motion because there would be a number of events on Carnival Friday and there would be a lot of music in Port of Spain. He added that in the past the music trucks would drive pass the Parliament building "with the Carib girls ... and other distractions" and MPs would have difficulty hearing themselves inside the Chamber.
Therefore, he said, Government decided that it was the responsible thing to move the debate forward to allow for a proper ventilation of the issues. "And all these decisions are made after a careful consideration of all the factors involved. If Mr Warner cannot understand that, he should quit!" Imbert thundered.
Imbert said it was the first time in his 16 years as an MP that he was hearing a member of Parliament complain so bitterly that parliamentary proceedings are interfering with his business activities. Imbert, who pointed out that he had been in business during his last period in Opposition, stressed that he understood that Parliament was supreme and therefore he never made a fuss when the UNC government called Parliament "at a moment's notice".
He urged Warner to "look at the example of Vasant Bharath who has quit his job as CEO of Nutrimix in order to be a full-time parliamentarian".
"Obviously, he recogises that Parliament comes first. So perhaps he should counsel Mr Warner," Imbert advised.
