PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad, CMC – Prime Minister Kamla Persad Bissessar Sunday night said she was standing by her embattled senior cabinet minister, Austin Jack Warner, who was temporarily suspended by the International Football Federation (FIFA), while allegations of bribery against him are investigated. 

In a statement issued yesterday, Persad Bissessar said that it is a fundamental tenet of the rule of law that a man is innocent until proven guilty. 

“This right is enshrined in the constitution of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago and is an important pillar in our system of justice. And so, the decision by FIFA to initiate a “provisional suspension” of its vice president Jack Warner, pending investigation, is not a determination of guilt, but part of a process that we trust will be fair and unprejudiced,” she said. 

Football’s world governing body has pledged to investigate bribery allegations against Warner, former presidential candidate Mohamed Bin Hammam and two Caribbean Football Union (CFU) officials, temporarily suspending them from activity connected with the game. 

Warner and Bin Hammam have been accused of offering US$40,000 to national associations of the CFU at a meeting on May 10 and 11, in return for their votes in the FIFA presidential election.

Bin Hammam was to face incumbent FIFA president Sepp Blatter for the top post in the game in an election on June 1, 2011 in Zurich, Switzerland, but withdrew his challenge amidst the allegations.

Warner is also the Minister of Works and Transport in the five-member coalition administration in Trinidad and Tobago.

“I intend to say a lot on this matter shortly, in the meantime I will vigorously defend my reputation as well as the reputation of the rest of the Caribbean members,” said Warner. 

Persad Bissessar said that FIFA is an international sport body that is not part of the government of Trinidad and Tobago, adding “we therefore have no knowledge about its procedures and the dynamics of its unique internal politics.  

“It would be unfortunate if we made premature adverse judgement and pronouncement on a matter that is under investigation. This would be contrary to the spirit and letter of the laws of our land,” she said, adding “ I am fully aware that events like this involving a senior cabinet minister will be of immense concern to the people of Trinidad and Tobago. 

She said she is also concerned about the allegations and expect Warner to provide an update when he returns to the country.

“At this time, there is no reason for me to arrive at any conclusion regarding the allegations made against Mr. Warner,” she said, describing her senior cabinet minister as “a son of our ‘soil’ who served this nation faithfully at that very football organisation and who was instrumental in leading Trinidad and Tobago to its very first world cup qualification just a few years ago”.

She said he must “be allowed every opportunity to present his case against the allegations made about him.”

“Consequently, at this time I will not prejudge the allegations against Minister Warner, and until there is evidence to the contrary, I stand by him,” she added.