Jack takes charge as Ag. PM; won't attend closing of FIFA world cup

Jack Warner is now in charge of the Government of Trinidad and Tobago as acting Prime Minister. He will hold the post until July 12 when Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar returns home from her first overseas trip.

She is leading the Trinidad and Tobago to the CARICOM summit (July 4-7) in Montego Bay, Jamaica. She will also make a formal visit to Kingston at the invitation of Jamaican Prime Minister Bruce Golding and also visit Miami before returning to Trinidad.

Persad-Bissessar will address the formal opening of the conference Sunday as the regional grouping welcomes the newest elected leader and the only woman to be Prime Minister of a CARICOM member at this time.

Since become Prime Minister of Trinidad and Tobago Persad-Bissessar has demonstrated strength and firmness in dealing with domestic matters and CARICOM is looking to her for clear indications of the direction she will follow in the integration movement.

She has already set the tone by rejecting the idea that her predecessor, Patrick Manning, was keen on - political and economic union of some Eastern Caribbean (OECS) states.

Persad-Bissessar's policy on that is that no such union would take place unless the people endorse it.

And CARICOM will be eager to hear the Prime Minister's views on the Single Market Economy, scheduled to take effect in 2015, which has suffered many serious setbacks.

Read the Sunday Guardian Editorial: Driving the CARICOM Agenda

Her absence from the country at this time has put Warner in charge of running the government. This development has caused the Works Minister and FIFA Vice President to make a clear choice between his dual responsibilities.

In a letter to FIFA President Joseph Sepp Blatter dated July 2, 2010, Warner told FIFA's chief that because of his temporary assignment he won't attend the closing matchesof the 2010 World Cup in South Africa.

"The Prime Minister of Trinidad and Tobago, Honourable Kamla Persad-Bissessar, will be out of the country from Saturday July 3rd until the following Monday (July 12). Madame Prime Minister, as Head of Government, announced that I would be the Acting Prime Minister during the period of her absence," he wrote.

The letter added, "The announcement was made following the weekly Cabinet meeting of Thursday July 1, 2010. At the meeting, the Prime Minister noted that it was not in the country's best interest for both her and the Chairman of the Party to be out of the country at the same time and that after giving it much thought, I was the best person at this time to act in her absence.

"President Blatter, I am sure you would understand that there was no way that I could have possibly refused the Prime Minister on this occasion.

"I do hereby thank you in advance for your kind understanding, even as I continue to pledge my loyalty to you and to the FIFA.

"I also take this opportunity to commend you and the LOC WC South Africa 2010 for the outstanding organisation of the tournament. Despite the minor challenges that faced us in the beginning, we have overcome.

"We can be proud of our choice of South Africa; we can be proud of Africa. I will not venture to predict the outcome of the finals, but I will say that the best team will win," the letter stated.