PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad – Works and Transport Minister Austin ‘Jack’ Warner insists that he has “broken no law” by serving in the Cabinet of Trinidad and Tobago and as a vice president of the International Football Federation (FIFA).

Warner, who returned from the FIFA World Cup in South Africa late yesterday, was met on arrival by a large group of supporters and said he would abide by the decision which Attorney General Anand Ramlogan would give to the government of new Prime Minister Kamla Persad Bissessar on the matter.

Ramlogan said last week that he has asked three senior prominent lawyers, including Guyana-born Sir Fenton Ramsahoye, for their opinion on the controversy that was raised by newly-appointed Opposition Leader Dr Keith Rowley.

“I ask Dr Rowley, as I ask you today, what law did I break, as vice-president of FIFA, or as Minister of Works and Transport…What law did I break? If anybody can tell me what law I broke, I would, of course, be very grateful, because I continue to be a law-abiding person. What code of ethics did I transgress?” Warner asked supporters at the Piarco International Airport.

The Opposition Leader had written to the Integrity Commission seeking to determine whether Warner is in breach of the Code of Ethics for Parliamentarians by holding both a ministerial portfolio and the vice presidency of FIFA.

In his letter, Rowley said he wanted the Commission to ask Prime Minister Persad-Bissessar to indicate whether Warner will remain also as President of the Confederation of North, Central American and Caribbean Association (CONCACAF) as well as special adviser to the Trinidad and Tobago Football Federation (TTFA) since both organisations continuously lobby government “for allocations of not insignificant sums for the necessary promotion of football”.

Rowley said the potential for conflict is clearly evident, when it is taken into account that Warner has “definite, known, personal and business connections” with both entities.

Warner, who was in South Africa for the opening of the World Cup, told supporters that he would be away for a maximum of 16 days each year on FIFA business and reiterated that he does not receive a salary from the international football body.

“I have asked the Ministry of Works and Transport for no favours except to serve you. No favours except to fix the roads, the bridges and the drains, to solve the traffic jam problems, to sit with my colleagues in the Cabinet to help improve your lives,” he told supporters at the airport.