Jack gets help from Obama campaign firm

Warner made this disclosure last Friday when he met with Congress of People (COP) leader Winston Dookeran at the Breakfast Shed in Port-of-Spain to discuss several matters of national importance.

On May 24, Warner and some COP officials met with top US Democratic strategist Larry Grisolano and other AKPD firm executives at the Hyatt Regency Hotel in Port-of-Spain. That meeting was held to discuss whether any political strategies used in the Obama campaign could be used here.

At that time Grisolano told reporters he did not have any magic answers to political issues in Trinidad and Tobago and was getting an insight from Warner. “I am now learning TT politics,” he stated. Warner told reporters last Friday: “The firm (AKPD) has submitted a document for us to implement.

Warner said the implementation of the strategies in that document, the appointment of an interim UNC executive, acceptance of the manifesto for change and a date for internal executive elections will be decided at a special UNC convention on November 29, after the Commonwealth Heads of Government meeting,

Opposition Leader Basdeo Panday said Warner has no authority under the UNC’s constitution to take any of these decisions. Panday said the UNC’s national executive will meet this week to decide upon a new date for the party’s national congress. The congress was scheduled for September 13 but was postponed due to the budget debate in the House of Representatives.