FIFA Scandal, Elections Still Goes On

Fifa presidential election to go ahead despite corruption arrests

The Fifa presidential election will take place on Friday as planned despite the arrest of seven Fifa officials on charges they received more than $150m (£100m) in bribes.

Among those arrested is Fifa vice-president Jeffrey Webb.

A separate criminal investigation into how the 2018 and 2022 World Cups were allocated has also begun.

But Fifa has already ruled out a revote, insisting Russia and Qatar will remain the respective hosts.

Sepp Blatter faces Prince Ali bin al-Hussein in Friday's election as he seeks a fifth term as Fifa president.

Prince Ali described Wednesday's developments as "a sad day for football" but declined to comment further.

Fifa issued a statement welcoming "actions that can help contribute to rooting out any wrongdoing in football".

Corruption probe number one

Swiss police made dawn raids at the Baur au Lac hotel in Zurich, where Fifa officials are staying ahead of Friday's presidential election.

The seven Fifa officials were arrested after the US Department of Justice issued a 47-count indictment charging 14 defendants with racketeering, wire fraud and money laundering conspiracies in a 24-year scheme.

The Federal Bureau of Investigation, a US law enforcement organisation, also raided the headquarters of the Confederation of North, Central America and Caribbean Association Football (Concacaf) in Miami.

"The indictment alleges corruption that is rampant, systemic and deep-rooted," said US attorney general Loretta Lynch.

"It spans at least two generations of soccer officials who, as alleged, have abused their positions of trust to acquire millions of dollars in bribes and kickbacks."

Indictment details:

• Bribes linked to commercial deals dating back to the 1990s for football tournaments in the US and Latin America
• Nine current or former Fifa officials, including Webb and former Fifa vice-president Jack Warner, charged with corruption
• Four individual and two corporate defendants, including former Concacaf general secretary Chuck Blazer and Warner's sons Daryan and Daryll, plead guilty
• Alleged scheme "fostered a culture of corruption and greed that created uneven playing field"
• "Undisclosed and illegal payments, kickbacks and bribes became a way of doing business at Fifa"
• Majority of scheme involved corruption over media and marketing rights to matches and tournaments

The seven Fifa officials arrested were Webb, Eduardo Li, Julio Rocha, Costas Takkas, Eugenio Figueredo, Rafael Esquivel and Jose Maria Marin. They now face extradition to the United States.

The two indicted defendants who were not among the seven arrested in Zurich are Warner and former Fifa member Nicolas Leoz.

Warner, a former Fifa vice-president from Trinidad and Tobago, insists he is innocent of the charges.

Now 72, he quit world football's governing body in 2011 after being suspended pending the outcome on an investigation into corruption allegations against him.

In a statement, he said the "actions of Fifa no longer concern me".

Corruption probe number two

In a separate move, just hours after the earlier arrests, Swiss authorities opened criminal proceedings over the awarding of the hosting rights to the 2018 and 2022 World Cups.

Electronic data was seized from Fifa's headquarters in Zurich as part of a investigation into "criminal mismanagement" and "money laundering".

Swiss police intend to question 10 Fifa executive committee members who took part in the voting process in December 2010.

Three years ago, Fifa hired a former US prosecutor, Michael Garcia, to investigate allegations of bribery over the awarding of the World Cups to Qatar and Russia.

However, it refused to publish his report, releasing only a summary in which it said there were no major irregularities. An angry Garcia quit, saying the summary was "erroneous".

Reacting to the news that criminal proceedings had been opened, Russian sports minister Vitaly Mutko said his country had "nothing to hide" and welcomed the Swiss investigation.

JACK WARNER WINS CHAGUANAS WEST

VICTORY SMILE: Jack Warner, left is congratulated by
 Community Development Minister Winston 'Gypsy' Peters
after is victory in the Chaguanas West by-election on Monday. Photo: Micheal Bruce

Jack Warner completed almost three months of campaigning with a resounding victory in the Chaguanas West by-election by sweeping aside all other candidates.

Warner, the former Member of Parliament for Chaguanas West under the United National Congress (UNC) banner, formed his own party, the Independent Liberal Party (ILP) after his bid to seek re-election as a UNC candidate was rejected.

In a campaign that turned bitter at times, Warner steadfastly refused to say anything negative against Prime Minister and UNC political leader Kamla Persad-Bissessar.

During his victory speech Warner said: "It was not easy but the voice of the people is the voice of God."

"Tonight a new era has dawned," he said.

Up to the point of Warner's victory speech the results showed he had collected 69 per cent of the votes with 12,631, compared to the UNC's Khadijah Ameen, 5126, with just a few polling station count outstanding.

Source:trinidadexpress

Volney Supports Jack Warner

Herbert Volney

Herbert Volney has signaled his intention to follow Jack Warner when he stated that he would be quitting the People's Partnership. During an interview with the media, Volney stated  "I saw the ship coming into harbour and I went out to meet it. Volney a former Minister within the Peoples Partnership was seen sporting a green tie  and jokingly told them that the green bay leaf in his hand keeps away the pest. 

Noting that he had no axe to grind , he stated that everyone needs forgiveness and reiterated that he was sacrificed like a lamb by the Peoples Partnership. He further stated that he had no problem supporting Jack Warner urging the people of Chaguanas West to forgive. 

Volney was sacked for the his role in engineering Cabinet’s approval for, and the President’s proclamation of Section 34 of the Administration of Justice  (Indictable Proceedings) 2011 Act.

Warner to launch color, symbol on ‘Fantastic Friday’

‘GOING GREEN’: Jack Warner greets supporters outside the
 Caroni Community Centre yesterday evening before his
cottage meeting. —Photo: AYANNA KINSALE

Jack Warner would be putting down his old political symbol and color as he goes green on July 29. Last night Jack Warner signaled at a cottage meeting that he will be contesting the Chaguanas West by-election. 

Warner is expected to launch the symbol and color which he will use on Friday at a meeting in Felicity which he has dubbed “Fantastic Friday”.

At the meeting, Warner said that tomorrow will be the last day he will be wearing the yellow color of the United National Congress (UNC) and green will be his election color. He made it clear that efforts can be made to take him away from the UNC, but the UNC cannot be taken away from him.

His walkabouts in the Chaguanas West constituency will continue.

The UNC with the endorsement of the Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar has named chairman of the Tunapuna/Piarco Regional Corporation Khadijah Ameen as their candidate for the Chaguanas West by-election, over Warner, who received a record 18,000-plus votes in the 2010 general election.

Warner said last night that yesterday, just before noon, the Elections and Boundaries Commission (EBC) ratified his nomination paper and everything was approved — his symbol, colour etc. He noted that his choice of greeen represents the sugar fields in Caroni, Chaguanas and the environs

Noting that the UNC has left him no alternative, he would be running because of love for party which he said he gave his life to. “The bond between you and me is a bond that cannot easily be broken,” said Warner as he disclosed he has a “plan” for his former UNC colleagues which he will unveil come Friday.

“They cannot take the UNC for me,” he said as he dealt with comments from party elections officer Ramona Ramdial that he will be expelled as a UNC member if he contests as an independent candidate.

“Ms Ramdial, cockroach have no place in fowl business, I plead with her tonight to stay out of fowl business!” said Warner.

He said there was now talk of the party’s constitution when the very party has not yet produced any financial records or held a party congress recently. Warner added that all 31 party groups in the Chaguanas West constituency nominated and supported him as their candidate.

He indicated that the support of at least 12 party groups was needed to endorse a candidate, Warner questioned which party groups endorsed Ameen.

Warner said he has no intention of crossing Persad-Bissessar or anyone from the UNC.

“The little boy from PNM, the little girl from UNC, nobody can tell you what they have done, they could tell you what they could do but only I could tell you what I have done and what I will continue to do,” said Warner.

“Because of you, I am never alone and therefore, I say to you tonight, we in Chaguanas West shall rise as a political grain of mustard seed to change the politics of Trinidad and Tobago,” said Warner.

He noted that in Egypt it was a nuts vendor who started a revolution of change.

“We in Chaguanas West have to be the catalyst of change and we shall show them on July 29 that change is here,” Warner declared. 

The Chaguanas West constituency   is considered a Safe Seat of the UNC. 

Jack Launches His Own Newspaper

‘Raising the bar’: Journalist Azad Ali and Jack Warner cut the ribbon
 to officially launch Warner’s Sunshine Newspaper
at Kantac Plaza, Eastern Main Road, Arouca
 on Friday night. —Photo: Ayanna Kinsale

Former minister of national security Jack Warner launched his weekly tabloid— the Trinidad and Tobago Sunshine Newspaper, in a low key ceremony, outside the newspaper’s office at Kantac Plaza, Arouca, on Friday afternoon.

Speaking with reporters on his decision to launch his own news publication Warner said it was his attempt to improve the standard of journalism by raising the bar while giving a voice to the marginalised of the country.

In his speech he said: “The Sunshine is designed with a conscience to recognise that while circulation statistics and healthy sales are critical to the life of any newspaper more important to us is the protection of people’s lives and character and the pursuit to ensure that lives are not unfairly destroyed and ruined.”

“Of course we do not propose to compromise the integrity of journalism which is founded on the publication of truth,” he added.

Warner, who holds the position of chairman at Sunshine, said to ensure that the highest standard of journalism is maintained by his publication, every article that goes into the paper will first have to get his stamp of approval.

The current staff at the publication is ten and includes editor Anthony “Lexo” Alexis and news editor Azad Ali. 

 Warner said he also has plans to get a radio and television licence at some point in the future.

Asked about start-up costs Warner declined to comment but boasted that his staff members were being fantastically paid with profit sharing packages.

 The first issue of the publication, expected on Friday, will be printed by the Guardian newspaper. Eventually the company wants to get its own printing press, Warner said.  

Source:trinidadexpress

Jack Warner Joins Partap On Backbench

Jack Warner

Coming almost a month shy of the PP’s three-year anniversary, UNC chairman Jack Warner’s resignation from the National Security Ministry now relegates the former frontline MP to backbencher, a PP spokesman said last night. Speaking after Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar announced she had accepted Warner’s resignation, PP officials said Warner, who usually sat at the PM’s right hand in Parliament, will no longer sit there.

They said Warner, who remains Chaguanas West MP, will now sit on the furthest PP backbench, near Colin Partap—once his junior National Security Minister—who was fired in August 2012 “That will be his seat unless he goes against the UNC whip,” they added. Persad-Bissessar last night spent the eve of her 61st birthday, today, announcing she had accepted the resignation of Warner, also her party’s chairman, from the Cabinet following the release of the findings of a Concacaf report Friday.

The report, which was compiled by former Barbadian chief justice Sir David Simmons, found that Warner did not disclose to world governing soccer body Fifa, or Concacaf—which represents soccer in the North/Central America and the region—that the US$25.9 million Joao Havelange Centre of Excellence was built on land owned by his companies. The PM also shifted Emmanuel George from Works to National Security yesterday.

Local Government Minister Suruj Rambachan also assumed the Works portfolio. Warner, who held Works as mega-ministry when he first assumed office in 2010, had the portfolio drastically slashed in a 2011 reshuffle. He was bumped back up to National Security last year, after Persad-Bissessar removed Brigadier John Sandy from the ministry.

Persad-Bissessar moved on the controversial issue yesterday, less than 24 hours after returning home from her US trip, and ahead of her departure for Canada tomorrow. Soon after the Prime Minister arrived home at 11 pm on Saturday, she told reporters at Piarco International Airport that she would meet with Warner at the “earliest opportunity.” Warner was conspicuously absent from the small group of ministers at Piarco who welcomed her home.

Persad-Bissessar said she had been briefed on the Concacaf report’s findings by the ministers who came to the airport and had also seen it via technology. She had said then her next step would have been to speak with Warner. “... And thereafter I’ll speak further,” the PM had added. Asked if Warner had a case to answer, Persad-Bissessar replied: “I’ll meet Mr Warner tomorrow (yesterday).

“The allegations are troubling ones for all of us. The Reuters report was one thing, I think this report is composed of some very troubling issues and certainly when I meet Mr Warner we’ll have further discussion on that,” she said. On the COP’s call for Warner to step down or be removed, she said PP members were free to express views. She said  she had never found that Partnership members did not support decisions she had made in their three years in office to date and did not think it would happen now.

After the PM spoke events developed swiftly. Early yesterday, PP officials said the situation was expected to be resolved before Persad-Bissessar left T&T again—tomorrow—for a state visit to Canada. They acknowledged the situation could not wait until her return from Canada. At 11 am yesterday, PP members were invited to Persad-Bissessar’s Phillipine, San Fernando, residence for a 2 pm meeting, including MPs, senators, ministers of state, TOP and NJAC members.

She met with various groups separately and Parliamentarians, one-on-one, it is understood. Some MPs, like Herbert Volney, did not attend. Warner, who arrived after the meeting began, was described by many as “looking depressed” when he arrived. He carried a similar expression as he left without addressing members of the media gathered outside.

Persad-Bissessar is expected to speak further on the issue at UNC’s Monday night forum tonight in her Siparia constituency. It is uncertain if Warner will attend. The cliffhanger concerning Warner occurred yesterday even as the UNC held constituency executive elections in ten constituencies. Polls in 31 others are complete, party officials said. 

It also developed ahead of Friday’s Parliament sitting, where Opposition Leader Keith Rowley has a motion concerning Warner on the agenda and to which Warner had promised to reply with an attack on the PNM leader. Claiming Warner was unsuitable for ministerial position, and the Prime Minister had not taken action with respect to him, the PNM wanted Parliament to “express its disapproval of the Prime Minister’s failure to take appropriate action.

PNM whip Marlene McDonald said if Warner was removed, the motion would still be debated. “I’m sure Dr Rowley will speak to any changes that might come before the motion,” McDonald added. PP’s issues will be the focus of PNM’s public meeting tomorrow in UNC heartland, near Warner’s constituency—Chaguanas.

Fifth Cabinet minister zapped

Jack Warner was the fifth minister to lose their positions from Persad-Bissessar’s Cabinet. The others were:

• Mary King from Planning (May 2011)—over a contract/family issue.

• Therese Baptiste-Cornelis—shifted from Health ( June 2011), recalled from Geneva diplomatic post (August 2012) over international statements.

• Colin Partap from junior National Security ministerial post (August 2012)— over his alleged refusal to take a breathalyser test outside a Port-of-Spain nightclub.

• Herbert Volney from Justice (September 21, 2012)—over his involvement in the Section 34 fiasco

Source:Trinidadguadian

Indra Maraj Jaggasar: In Defence of Our MP Jack Warner

This is a response to Prakash Ramadhar leader of the Congress of the People, who along with its members called for the removal of Jack Warner. The excerpt below was release on a Facebook page purporting to be the official page of Jack Warner MP for Chaguanas West. 

Jack Warner: THA Election Blatant Tribalism

Jack Warner, Minister of National Security

In a desperate bid to prop up support for the Peoples Partnership, Jack Warner in his assessment of the Tobago House of Assembly (THA) Election stated that the result reflected how palpable the notion of fear among African population can be. Warner believed that the people of Tobago succumbed to a fear that was preached by  the PNM "It was rank and of course blatant tribalism, it was race at its worst" He said.

Noting that the people of Tobago did not consider the level of corruption and nepotism of the PNM's administration, He said they only took into account the message of an invasion, something that would imprison them. Jack Warner and the Prime Minister were heavily active and involved in the lead up to the THA election 2013, opening a New Gas Station and a branch of UTT, while walking the streets canvassing for their associate Ashworth Jack. He noted that the PP government would have to do some introspection, but more critically  assess how the UNC and its supporters are viewed by certain section of the society. 

Warner was not the only person which stated that "Race" was the deciding factor. Attorney General Anand Ramlogan another UNC member stated that PNM's THA election campaign was "clearly race based" and that Hilton Sandy's "Calcutta" statement was a defining milestone.  

Meanwhile Bhoe Tewarie expressed shock at the PNM's landslide victory while Ramadher sees TOP's loss in the THA's election as a big wake up call for the Government.

Jack Warner Must be In a Stupor

According to a Sunday Express report  Security Minister Jack Warner did not declared his assets in the Teachers' Credit Union to the Integrity Commission within recent years.

The report noted that Warner has shares in his name which were valued at $611,126.23 as at January 1, 2011. However, when questioned about the misrepresentation of his information to the Integrity Commission, Warner replied, that the blame and questions should be directed to his Accountant. 

How can a Minister who has the sole responsibility to declare his asset ascribe blame to his Accountant? Jack Warner has to be in a Stupor. No conscious person in managerial positions, leadership roles, heads of section etc would ascribe blame to junior staff given a document would have entered the public domain erroneously with his or her signature. Why didn't Basdeo Panday when he was being Locked UP tell the police to go for his Accountant, because his accountant would have been the one who forgot to put in the London Account?  

Jack Warner must be sleeping or in an effort to be ridiculously stupid or in his effort to dismiss questions from the Express (a paper they described as being anti government) formulate this frivolous answer/response. Jack Warner your answer is Stupid, Lacking Intelligence or Common sense.

The law is clear, that all assets and liabilities are to be declared and once you as Minister would have affixed your signature to a document, it matters not who would have been the originator of the document it becomes yours and as a result all responsibility for the content is ascribed to you. 

The truth about this is that the Account is an old account and should not be hard to justify it being left out. The action of trying to dissociate your responsibility for the omission speaks volumes to your character. Be a man and admit that the account was omitted on purpose or other wise.  

JACK FAILS TO DECLARE

National Security Minister Jack Warner has not made a declaration about his assets in the Teachers' Credit Union to the Integrity Commission within recent years.

According to a document obtained by the Sunday Express, Warner has shares in his name which were valued at $611,126.23 as at January 1, 2011.

The document, which appears to be a computer generated "member statement", gives the account number, states that Warner—a former teacher—joined the credit union in 1983, some 29 years ago, suggesting that the funds have accumulated over a considerable period of time.

The document also gives Warner's birth date and address.

However, an examination of the Register of Interests, specifically with respect to Warner's last three declarations to the Integrity Commission, did not reflect this asset.

According to his 2009, 2010 and 2011 declarations of assets, income and liabilities, Warner revealed that he received income from a government pension; distributions from Unit Trust Corporation, a salary as an MP and bank interest from Scotiabank, First Citizens' and Republic Bank.

The 2009 declaration was received by the Commission on May 28, 2010; the 2010 declaration on November 28, 2011 and the 2011 declaration on September 19, 2012.

The declarations listed Warner's directorships, the properties he owned (with his wife) and his investments.

The shares in the Teachers' Credit Union are not listed as investments either.

The list of investments includes Joe Public, Eastern Agricultural Resorts Ltd, H &Z Ltd, Jamad Maintenance Service Ltd, Reenalen Ltd, JAW Ltd, Renraw Ltd, Sportal, JAW,  Holdings Ltd, (additionally for 2011) J & D International and CCAM Ltd. 

Attempts to contact Warner were unsuccessful yesterday.

However, he had been previously briefed—two weeks ago—and declined comment on the issue.

Speaking at that time through his adviser Francis Joseph, the Minister, who had been the subject of  a FIFA investigation and who is currently the subject of a complaint filed by Fixin' TnT's Kirk Waithe with the Integrity Commission, had only this retort: "Steups. You can do what you want."

Two weeks ago Warner told the Sunday Express he had been contacted by the Commission because it had said that his Form A was incomplete and there were other issues with his Form B.

Form A is the confidential document which instructs a public officer to declare his income, assets and liabilities. It calls for complete details of the income of the public officer, his spouse (and dependent children) and requests specifically all income from jobs, dividends, properties and from other sources.

Form B also relates to sources of funds, directorships and investments. Under the Integrity in Public Life Act, public officials are required to make a full and complete declaration about this assets, income and liabilities.

However, the law makes allowances for human error and a person would only be charged if the person cannot reasonably explain why there was no declaration of the particular funds, if the person cannot reasonably explain the source of the funds, and if all the evidence appears to suggests that a false/incomplete declaration was knowingly and deliberately made to the Commission by the public official.

Two previous government officials so charged were former prime minister Basdeo Panday and former energy minister Finbar Ganga

Jack: Kublalsingh Killing Himself, and he Should Do it Quickly!!

Minister of National Security,
Jack Warner addressing supporters last night
at a meeting at Debe High School.

In a meeting for supporters at the United National Congress (UNC) last night, National Security Minister Jack Warner defended Government's decision to build the Mon Desir segment of the Point Fortin Highway, describing hunger striker Dr Wayne Kublalsingh as a conman who was attempting to blackmail the country.

Warner said Kublalsingh, now in his 13th day without food or water, was eating at night He told party supporters that Kublalsingh was staying at homes in Maraval and Marabella and "eating more hearty than you".

He indicated that Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar will not be held responsible if Kublalsingh dies. 

What was surprisingly said by Warner was, "They say the Prime Minister is killing Wayne Kublalsingh, but he is killing himself and he better do it quickly! Don’t feel sorry for him. Kublalsingh is trying to blackmail the country and blackmail the Prime Minister."

Kublalsingh's father, Ray Kublalsingh, refused to respond to Warner's statements. Ray said that Warner was "a non-entity.  indicating that his family is respectable, and that they have worked hard to achieve what they have and they are supporting his son. "I heard everything he said about my son and my family and I don't even want to entertain that. I will not respond," he said.

Warner then attacked his supporters and visitors, "Look at the people who are trying to ride the Kublalsingh bandwagon! What is their motivation? Is it that they are against the highway? Or are they there because they have some grudge against the Prime Minister? Every one of them has a political wound and they are looking for revenge. Every single one of them has an axe to grind against Kamla. Their presence, kissing Kublalsingh’s hand and patting his forehead, Verna spitting up, has nothing to do with the highway. They see him as a stepping stone for their own political agendas and aspirations."

Persad-Bissessar at the same meeting did not address Kublalsingh's hunger strike in her speech. Instead she told supporters about the benefits of the highway to Point Fortin. She indicated that a meeting was held with the Highway Re Route Movement in March and a technical report was produced. 

Top CoP Condemns action of Rogue Officer

Acting Commissioner of Police (CoP) Stephen Williams

"Reprehensible, unacceptable and unprofessional." were the words of acting Commission of Police (CoP) Stephen Williams,to describe the action of a police officer who slapped in a citizen in the face before taking him to a marked police car.  

"The Trinidad and Tobago Police Service will never support officers behaving in such unacceptable manners. I see it as unprofessional and we are really working hard at getting a professional organisation and it is incidents like these which take away from the hard work of officers as we seek to build a professional organisation," Williams added.

Williams said the matter is being "effectively addressed" and has been deemed as "high priority". However the said the officer in question will remain on duty during the investigation.

Other viewers of the video were, Minister of Security Jack Warner and head of the Police Complaints Authority Gillian Lucky.

Williams said the matter is being "effectively addressed", with investigations being conducted by both the Police Service's Professional Standards Unit and the Police Complaints Authority .

Meanwhile,Terrence Augustine, who has been identified as the man slapped in the video, appeared before a San Fernando magistrate on Tuesday charged with resisting arrest, assaulting the officer and using insulting language.

Augustine is said to have assaulted constable Richard Kishore. 

Politicians Steal Spotlight in Olympians Motorcade.

In what should have been a day to celebrate our Olympic heroes, tuned out to be an event marred with political trickery and subtle public relation activities. On Monday the 20th of August, a planned Motorcade for returning Olympians was organised by Government to be held in Tobago. From the onset, politicians can be seen stealing the spot light of our teenage  Heroes. Politicians swarm the caravan in which the athletes were to be transported and some even rode in it as if it were their "time".  

Ashworth Jack Stealing the Spot Light of our
Olympic Heroes

Moreover, what followed en-route was grossly distasteful and disrespectful to our Heroes. Instead of Olympians meeting with people and signing autographs, it was over shadowed with gluttonous citizens competing without fail, swarming like bees to collect handouts distributed by the Government. Investigations would reveal that these gifts distributed were Mugs and Cups with the Prime Minister's face printed on them., disguised in a white box that bore the Coat of Arms. A total disrespect for the athletes and the country which is would celebrate its 50th year of Independence. Why wasn't these cups and mugs printed with our Heroes faces or printed with some symbol more  apt or mutual? The PP Government chose to use the achievement of our young vibrant heroes and make a mockery of it transforming it into a Public Relation Circus.

A Cup distributed by the PP Government in Celebration of our Olympic Heroes in Tobago

Ashworth Jack, Minority Leader THA
giving out Gifts during Celebrations for Olympians in Tobago

This is confirmation that they do not have these athletes' interest at heart. Rather it is their hidden agenda, to steal the spotlight and mascarade themselves all in an effort to gain cheap political points. This sort of 'tom-foolishness' should not repeat itself. If the day belongs to the successful athletes, let that be the sole agenda. Let the heroes bask in their moment, let them meet and greet people, let them sign autographs and engage in their photo op.  

Why make it political? why suck the blood of these athletes and ride their wave of success in a bid to wrongfully gain that which does not belong to you?

Celebrating our athlete's success does not mean the inclusion of political figures. it does not transform into political figures becoming band-wagonist and distributing anything political. Souvenirs should not be of political faces, nor bare political symbols or should not reflect any political agenda. Rather, they should be solely about the athletes, and their long journey to success. 

  

So given that we have the opportunity to come right on the 3rd of September, I hope that the Government would get it right this time. Hope that they would be genuine in their efforts of celebrating our heroes. Hope that our Heroes would be rewarded with the respect and treatment that they justly deserve. Till such time the eyes of Trinidad and Tobago would be firmly on you.