A British lawyer stated Friday that journalists must be careful about how they report stories that are potentially libellous. Ronald Twaites, Q.C., representing Works and Transport Minister Jack Warner, was speaking at the Hall of Justice in Port of Spain.
Warner is considering legal action against the Trinidad Express newspaper for a story about alleged irregularities in Australia involving FIFA.
Speaking with reporters Friday Warner declared that while he has ignored attacks on his character in the past, the paper has gone too far, causing him to draw a "line in the sand".
Warner stated that his character is under attack as a result of the Express reprinting "a story with little changes and without investigations on FIFA matters and the Australian bid for the 2018 World Cup". He stated, "Enough is enough".
Twaites is reviewing the story by Express Journalist Lasana Libird headlined: "Jack Named Down Under".
The Express report was based an Australian story that said FIFA was investigating allegations that Australian World Cup bid officials bribed some FIFA officials.
The report quoted that country's Sports Minister Kate Ellis as pledging to “thoroughly investigate” any evidence that the country’s World Cup bid team deliberately misled its government and concealed millions of dollars in fees and bonuses to two of its bid consultants.
Twaites advised the media that the practice of reproducing information circulating in another jurisdiction can be potentially dangerous.
"It is not fair to just report what is printed in one jurisdiction and just reprint it into another without proper investigations," Twaites stated, adding that "Mr Warner is entitled to fairness whether in public or private life".
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