Reporter
rishard.khan@guardian.co.tt
Opposition Leader Kamla Persad-Bissessar is defending her move to realign with embattled Jack Warner saying he is “innocent until proven guilty”.
The former FIFA vice president currently has the threat of extradition to the United States to face charges over alleged corruption while in the role.
Persad-Bissessar’s defence came during an interview with journalists following a UNC Emancipation Day celebration in New Grant yesterday. Guardian Media asked what made her decide to partner with her former People’s Partnership minister despite this dark cloud hanging over him.
“I think there are many people with dark clouds, (but) it does not mean they are guilty of those matters. The law provides you are innocent until proven guilty. I’m a lawyer. I like to think I’m a very good lawyer,” she said.
Asked what value he brings to the table, she said, “We want unity. Each one, whether it’s Mr Warner, Mr Griffith, or whoever. We need to come together. I say united we stand, together we can. We could do it and that’s what he brings as one of the persons who has joined with us,” Persad-Bissessar said.
Last week the Opposition Leader presented Warner along with former commissioner of police and now National Transformation Alliance leader Gary Griffith as partners in its accommodation. It was the first time Warner appeared on a political platform since the allegations were revealed. He received what many described as a “hero’s welcome” at the event.
Since then, Persad-Bissessar has received harsh criticism from some members of the public and politicians alike for the move.
However, Persad-Bissessar said she has received positive feedback on the ground over Warner’s return to her side.
“I think people are very excited and very happy because it gives a sense of hope with us coming together. The country has been divided for too long and the result has been despair, the fear with everything crumbling and collapsing. So it gives a tremendous sense of hope (that) something’s happening,” she said.
On the decision to put the past behind and move forward, she added, “I said, we all said–we have to stop toting and start voting to bring the change about in the country.”