Following on from the CLICO debacle and now with Jack Warner being served a summons to appear in court, the media really have to raise their game. Press & TV journos are sleeping while massive stories of huge importance to the public happen around them. News reporting isn't a spectator sport. Yes, they report the news, but they should also be uncovering the stories that others try to bury. Ian Alleyne is a nightmare, but at least he's first to the scene and then goes off to solve the case! Dangerous? Yes. Idiotic? At times, Yes. But he is uncovering stories.
Wednesdays news that Warner was being summoned was reported in the Sports section of the news by James Saunders. I like James, but his tone is very whimsical. This story was reported halfway through the bulletin in almost a lighthearted way. I was disgusted that a story with potentially so much impact on the nation could be treated in such a way. I don't think it even got a mention on the 10pm news.
Lets understand this. Mr Warner is first and foremost a T&T citizen, subject to the laws of the land. He has been accused by his employer of witholding information concerning the whereabouts and distribution of up to TT$180 million, some of which includes government funds. A T&T High court judge has described his accounts as unaccountable and declared that he believed several large financial items were missing. The Court of Arbitration in London identify ed Warner as the person responsible for providing incorrect accounts to the players and, thereby, the court.
Mr Warner, as an M.P. has sworn an oath to uphold the laws of T&T and to act with honesty and integrity.
As part of the Peoples Partnership, Mr Warner backed their election pledge to rid the nation of corruption and to work with transparency and accountability and to stop the practice of comingling funds.
The media should be asking Warner, and every available Minister, M.P. and senator if he (Warner) is going to resign. They should be calling for an investigation. Remember, this is not hearsay or speculation...it is fact. The accounts submitted by Warner were incorrect, and he has done nothing to correct that in 5 years. He lied to the players and attempted to mislead the court of arbitration and the T&T High Court.
And remember, it is alleged that Warner funded the PP's election campaign. If this is so, it is entirely possible that some of the funds from 2006 WC LOC found their way to the election campaign. If this is proven, the Govt would be forced to resign. This is big news at any time, but during a State of Emergency, this could be devastating for the country.
Now look at how the English press deal with their M.P.s and notice that the amounts involved are far less and, although rules are broken, they haven't commited perjury or contempt of court. They got caught and resigned to save their party further embarrassment.
http://www.thisislondon.co.uk/standard/article-23913133-shamed-mp-eric-illsley-faces-calls-to-resign.dohttp://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/mps-expenses/5329136/Shahid-Malik-resigns-as-Justice-Minister-over-MPs-expenses.htmlhttp://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/mps-expenses/7783687/David-Laws-resigns-over-expenses-claim.htmlhttp://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/mps-expenses/5562772/Kitty-Ussher-resigns-from-Government-over-17000-tax-dodge-MPs-expenses.htmlhttp://www.rte.ie/news/2005/1102/blunkettd.html