Jack preparing report for PM Kamla on LGE controversy

Jack Warner is preparing a report for Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar on the controversy over a decision by five candidates who were rejected by the UNC for the Local Government Election (LGE) to run as independents.

Persad-Bissessar led the Trinidad and Tobago delegation to the 31st Caricom Summit in Montego Bay, Jamaica, which ended Wednesday.

She will visit Kingston for bilateral talks with her Jamaican counterpart before flying off to Miami for a special function in her honour on Friday night. She is expected home on July 12.

Press Secretary Gavin Nicholas confirmed to JYOTI Thursday that there are no plans for the Prime Minister to change her schedule and return home earlier than planned as a result of the election controversy. "Absolutely untrue," Nicholas said in an email from Jamaica.

At least one local media report has suggested that Persad-Bissessar might be returning home earlier than planned. The Trinidad Express quoted unnamed sources as saying Persad-Bissessar was cancelling her Miami visit to return home.

Warner, who is the chairman of the UNC, told reporters Wednesday he has heard reports that a UNC MP might be sent before the party’s disciplinary committee for allegedly encouraging unsuccessful UNC candidates to fight seats as independents.

However he declined comment on that and said the Prime Minister will deal with the issue when she returns home.

“Mrs Persad-Bissessar will be back next week and she will be given a full report...I have asked those people who have evidence to put their reports in writing and that will be given to the political leader.

I don’t have all the facts so I don’t want to comment on that further,” he said.