Ramadhar disappointed at Warner’s reaction

While “personally pained” at Jack Warner’s disappointment in him, Congress of the People deputy leader  Prakash Ramadhar has maintained his position that Warner should step down while a FIFA probe does its work. “I hope Mr Warner heard what I actually said and not what headlines say,” Ramadhar added yesterday. “I asked him to step aside until the probe is completed and I indicated hope that the probe is successfully concluded so he can return to work.” Ramadhar was responding yesterday to disappointment which Warner expressed about Ramadhar’s statement that Warner should step down.

Warner waded into Ramadhar’s statements when he arrived home from Zurich on Thursday at Piarco.
Yesterday in the House of Representatives, there was a noticeable coolness between both, as Warner was greeted by many People’s Partnership MPs. Speaking ahead of the House session, Ramadhar told the Trinidad Guardian: “Jack is a colleague of mine and I continue to admire his ability and great charm.
“I take personal pain in his disappointment in me but when I get to meet him, I will let him know it’s nothing against him personally, it is all about developing T&T,” he said. “His disappointment in me is misplaced...I came into politics based on principle not personality so this has nothing to do with Jack as a person.

“It is about the standards we wish to set in society and the right thing...We cannot be talking about change and when change comes, we criticise it. “This has nothing do with COP campaigning. “I was asked a question about Jack by the media and I responded...I could not have shirked my responsibility as deputy leader. “I take no pleasure in saying these things and I wish we didn’t have to deal with the issue concerning Jack—but we have to. On Warner’s comment about toeing the line, Ramadhar said:
“I didn’t come into politics to toe the line...We in COP, stand firmly for what we believe in and to be right.

“The Prime Minister made a statement (on the issue) and we have the right to disagree, but in a manner that will bear fruit, strengthen the Partnership and help us learn from each other and grow as a result of the different points of view,” he said. “We’re not here to toe any line...We must move to drawing new lines because it is toeing certain old lines which have led to the Calder Harts and others which the PP fought against.”9