WHILE Mr. Jack Warner is happily making maximum use of the Trinidad and Tobago media to promote his recently launched Independent Liberal Party (IPL), the Confederation of North, Central American and Caribbean Association (CONCACAF) seems to be in no hurry to deal with his “pre-action protocol letter” to sue that regional football body for claimed wide-ranging allegations of fraud against him..

Likewise, nor does Barbados’s retired Chief Justice, Sir David Simmons, also recipient of such a ‘protocol letter’, appears in any way disturbed by Warner’s intent to sue him for libel.
Sir David was appointed by CONCACAF’s Executive Committee to head an Integrity Committee to undertake a thorough investigation into widespread allegations of fraudulent management of the association’s business under Warner’s watch as President, along with then former General Secretary, Charles ‘Chuck’ Blazer.
Chronicle readers would also be aware that, as one experienced Senior Counsel has pointed out, a “protocol letter” is not actually suing for alleged defamation of character. And, as has often happened in previous cases, such action could be expediently withdrawn, or simply fail to be pursued.
However, while the reputed ‘Anancy’ politician Warner, a former controversial cabinet minister of Prime Minister, Kamla Persad-Bissessar, ought not to be envied for the public relations-type media coverage he attracts from sections of the T&T media, the implications of the “executive summary” of the Integrity Committee Report deserve to be exposed for public attention across this Region and beyond.
It would be recalled that the high-level Integrity Committee’s report was officially made available to the CONCACAF Executive Committee at their meeting in Panama City since April 19 this year.
This correspondent is now sharing with readers highlights of the Integrity Committee’s report, aware that the Trinidad Express has also focused on some aspects of the committee’s findings having started its work back in September last year.
+Here follows—without comment for now—some of the startling findings and observations of the Commitee’s report:
+ “Jack Warner and Chuck Blazer were central figures in this (CONCACAF-authorised) investigation. The Committee corresponded with Warner and Blazer in an effort to secure their participation in the investigation and their evidence, but each declined. Relevant correspondence with them by the committee is attached in the submitted report….
+ “But the lack of required evidence from both Warner  and Blazer “was counter- balanced by credible documentary evidence that spoke clearly and cogently about the conduct of each of them…In most instances, the documents provided a compelling account of what happened….
“Compelling accounts”
“After careful consideration of the totality of the evidence available to the Committee, it was determined that on the balance of probabilities, the evidence supports the following conclusions which are addressed more thoroughly in this report: For instance: In connection with the Centre of Excellence (COE) and CONCACAF operations in Trinidad and Tobago:
“Warner committed fraud against CONCACAF and FIFA; Warner committed fraud and misappropriation of in connection with funds from FIFA; Warner and Blazer breached their Fiduciary Duties to CONCACAF; Warner and Blazer violated the CONCACAF Statutes; Warner (also violated the FIFA Ethics Code…”
Further, the Integrity Committee concluded that “Jack Warner committed fraud against CONCACAF and FIFA (Federation of International Football Associations) in two ways:
“First, Warner secured funds from FIFA and CONCACAF by falsely representing, and intentionally creating a false impression that the land on which the COE (Centre for Excellence) was developed was owned by Concacaf when he knew that it was in fact owned by his own companies.
“Secondly, “Warner induced FIFA to transfer funds when he knew that they were intended for development of the COE to himself personally by falsely representing that the bank accounts to which FIFA should send the funds were Concacaf accounts when he knew that in fact he controlled them personally…..”
In the meanwhile, of course, Mr Warner continues to engage in political bragging rights over media responses to his few weeks old Independent Liberal Party, even as the Trinidad and Tobago Integrity Commission has earlier this week decided to become involved in probing corruption allegations swirling around the former National Security Minister.
The controversial politician is seemingly being chased, if not chastened, by the spreading allegations of fraudulent management of the business of CONCACAF and FIFA. Stay tuned.