Govt vs Jack

As Government moved yesterday to formalise plans to send a cultural troupe and to buy a block of tickets for World Cup finals and arrange a BWIA charter to Germany, FIFA Vice-President Jack Warner raised objections both from the point of view of protocol as well as principle.

"You don’t just announce that you are sending a cultural troupe to Germany. They behaving like if it is the Hasely Crawford Stadium," he said incredulously.

Pouring cold water over Government’s other proposal, Warner said Government had no role in the distribution of World Cup tickets.

"These are the things that really embarrass me, that tells me that this country is not ready. You ever know of FIFA dealing with a Government? And sending a cultural troupe to Germany (without working out how it could be accommodated in the stadium, or how it would fit in that kind of setting)? We looking so juvenile and backward (with such statements)" Warner said.

He said Government "intervening at any level" in the sale of tickets for World Cup was "unheard of. That is contrary to all what FIFA stands for," he added.

Warner was responding to Prime Minister Patrick Manning’s statements at a post-Cabinet news conference on Thursday. Moving very quickly on the heels of the Prime Minister’s statements, Sports Minister Roger Boynes yesterday dispatched a letter to the local Football Federation informing the organisation of Government’s intention.

"The Government proposes to send a cultural troupe consisting of steelband, calypsonians and an Indian cultural group for the World Cup finals in Germany. In the circumstances, the Government will be approaching your organisation with a view to acquiring a block of tickets," Boynes stated.

He added that Government had been approached by persons from the national community, and those who supported football from the inception who were prepared to make their own arrangements. Boynes requested from the federation "at the earliest possible opportunity a list of persons who have applied and have acquired tickets."

Asked if Government would be in a position to get tickets, Warner suggested that Government would have to stand in line like everyone else. "The Government could only get tickets from FIFA based on a criteria which we are still working out," he said. Warner said although tickets had not arrived, or had not yet been assigned, people were behaving as though they were.

Boynes’ letter was addressed to Oliver Camps, TTFF president, and copied to Warner, who is special adviser to the TTFF.

Asked if he would allow a cultural troupe to go to Germany, Warner replied: "I can’t allow or disallow. What I am telling you, you don’t just make a public announcement (without consultation with the appropriate authorities) that you taking a cultural troupe to Germany." He said the TTFF officials had a meeting yesterday morning with officials of the Ministry of Tourism who said they know nothing about this plan (to send a cultural troupe), except what they read in the newspapers.

Dealing with the attacks on Simpaul’s monopoly, Warner said people didn’t have to buy tickets from Simpaul. He said when Lazarri and Samson were involved in the business of selling tickets, there were no such hysteria. But now it was Warner and his companies there was hysteria because "Warner is the whipping boy. But they would not succeed (in making me the whipping boy)," he said.

Warner said "all over the place," Government companies were advertising with companies owned by Government officials, and board members were also taking out insurances with companies in which board members and Government officials sat.

Noting that in this age of telecommunications, statements were instantly carried via the Internet to people around the world, Warner lamented that every day "we open our mouths, people are laughing at us." He ended the interview by saying that he was about to board a plane for England to do football business. "And I am not prepared to dignify the nonsense that is taking place (by saying any more). My show will go on," he stated.