Former FIFA Vice and Trinidad and Tobago Football Association (TTFA) President and Government Minister Jack Warner has contracted the deadly Covid-19 virus.
The Express understands that Warner, 77, was taken to Westshore private hospital last Friday with reports of a cardiac issue.
He was subsequently attended do and he returned to his Arouca home where his condition deteriorated.
Warner was taken back to the Westshore hospital on Tuesday where a Covid test wad administered yielded a positive result.
The Express learnt that Warner is battling the virus and is in the care of the public healthcare institution.
There was speculation on the state of Warner's health on social media on Wednesday where rumours circulated that he had died.
Warner is not dead.
Independent Liberal Party (ILP) political leader Rekha Ramjit told the Express by phone that Warner is a private citizen and is entitled to his privacy.
She said when Warner or his family wishes to divulge any information they will do so.
Warner is the second Trinbagonian politician to contract the Covid-19 virus.
Former Caroni East MP Dr Tim Gopeesingh had tested Covid positive and was in State quarantine before being discharged to his home.
Warner had unsuccessfully contested the Lopinot/Bon Air West constituency seat in the August 10 general election and vigorously campaigned walking the constituency every day.
In 2013 Warner resigned as national security minister in the Persad-Bissessar government following a CONCACAF report which implicated him and his one-time ally Chuck Blazer as being “fraudulent in their management” of CONCACAF.
He is fighting extradition stemming from charges of criminal conduct in the US.
Warner had said last month that the corruption matter against him in the US is seven years old and he is optimistic that when the matter comes to trial he will be “fully cleared” as he was with the Integrity Commission.
RELATED NEWS
Reports: Warner laid low by coronavirus
Insideworldfootball.
The coronavirus has reached parts that not even the US Justice Department could reach. Trinidad press is reporting that world football’s most wanted, Jack Warner (not Lionel Messi), has tested positive for Covid-19.
The Trinidad Daily Express has reported that the disgraced former Concacaf president and FIFA vice president, aged 77, was admitted to hospital last Friday for a cardiac issue before being released.
He returned to the hospital on Tuesday where he tested positive for Covid-19.
Social media rumours were that Warner had died though the Express reports he is still alive.
The health scare comes as rumours that the Privy Council is close to releasing its ruling on whether Warner can be extradited to the US to face the multiple charges of money laundering, bribery and graft that were released in the 2015 FIFAgate indictments.
Depending on how his recovery progresses Warner could, somewhat ironically, find himself recovering at the House of Football that is currently being used as a Covid recovery and quarantine facility. The House of Football was closed by his suspended buddies who were previously in charge of the TTFA before being replaced by a Normalisation Committee. Though he could also check in to the Concacaf Centre of Excellence facility that was built with Concacaf money on land bought with FIFA money but controversially ended up in the ownership of Warner as a purported gift and which currently operates as an event and hotel facility.
Warner hospitalised for COVID-19 treatment.
By Gail Alexander (Guardian).
A close relative of former People’s Partnership minister Jack Warner last evening confirmed that he had been hospitalised for the treatment of COVID-19.
“He is coping. He had a few issues of concern prior to the COVID diagnosis but he is a fighter,” the relative said, after social media reports first circulated yesterday that Warner had died before suggesting he was hospitalised on Tuesday for COVID-19.
The development came after Warner, 77, had said last Monday he had been tested for COVID-19 at a private institution after two of his employees tested positive recently. Two days later, he said that he’d spent a nerve-wracking 48 hours awaiting the test results but these showed he was negative. He said his wife Maureen, driver and others close to him had also tested for the virus and were all negative. He’d told the T&T Guardian that he would have still self-quarantine for seven days after the tests.
But yesterday, several social media reports alleged that Warner had “died” and it was later reported that he had been hospitalised with the virus.
Sports fraternity sources stated yesterday that following Warner’s first COVID test, he continued to feel unwell and went back for a second test at a private institution in West Trinidad on Tuesday - and that result proved positive. The sources also said that he’s since been hospitalised and is being treated for the virus.
Health Ministry officials didn’t answer calls on the issue last night, including on whether Warner, who unsuccessfully ran for the Lopinot/Bor Air West seat in the August 10 General Election, is now at a public health care facility.
Warner’s communications manager Michelle Borde-Harvey didn’t comment on the reports but told the T&T Guardian that Warner is resting comfortably.
“He isn’t saying anything to media right now but when he’s ready he will speak,” Borde-Harvey said.
Warner didn’t reply to calls or text messages yesterday.
Also contacted yesterday about the reports and his condition, his wife Maureen, speaking from their home, said, “I’m not speaking to any newspaper.”
Meanwhile, Independent Liberal Party (ILP) leader Rekha Ramjit said, “This is a private matter and I’m not about to breach any private confidence. If he can’t be reached, then he can’t be reached. His family will speak.
“If he can’t be reached, he can’t be reached or doesn’t want to be reached. I’m not denying or confirming any situation with Mr Warner. He is a private individual entitled to his privacy. If and when the time is right and if need be, his family will let the media what is happening. At this time, a person’s health is their private business and I won’t deny or confirm any rumours flying around the country.”
Yesterday, the UNC’s Devant Maharaj said he had spoken to the former FIFA vice president and Works and Transport minister last Sunday and Warner had told him he’d taken a COVID test last week and was cleared, as was his wife, driver and others.
The first politician to contract the virus was former UNC MP Dr Tim Gopeesingh, who was also being treated for the virus recently and had told the T&T Guardian last week that he was on the mend.
The country recorded a 28th COVID death yesterday and now has 1,201 active cases.
Sporting fraternity: Jack's a fighter.
By Bobie-Lee Dixon (Guardian).
Several hours after news broke on Wednesday evening that former FIFA Vice-President Jack Warner had tested positive for COVID-19 and was hospitalised, a post to his official Facebook page yesterday morning sought to confirm the reports, adding Warner was in good spirits.
“Pleasant morning all, the reports are true. Mr Warner has tested positive for Covid-19 and is, in fact, being treated. He wishes to advise all, that he is alive and in good spirits, as always,” the post read.
Responding to Warner’s diagnosis members of the sporting fraternity were now wishing the former CONCACAF president a speedy recovery.
Labelling Warner a ‘fighter’, they predicted he would fight and overcome this hurdle too.
Former Trinidad and Tobago Football Association (TTFA) president, William Wallace, said in a telephone interview the news of Warner’s positive COVID-19 diagnosis was a bit surprising but he added that it was clear no one was exempt from the virus.
“I wish Mr Warner a speedy recovery. I know he is a fighter and we are looking forward to him getting over this,” said Wallace.
Get-well wishes also came from President of the Trinidad and Tobago Olympic Committee (TTOC), Brian Lewis who described Warner as a man of resilience and courage.
“It is not something anyone would want for themselves. One can only wish him the best in overcoming this,” he said.
Long-time friend and former Guardian Media Sports Editor Valentino Singh boasted, “If it is one man I know, will not lie down and die because of COVID-19, it’s Austin Jack Warner.”
Singh, who authored two biographies on Warner—Upwards Through the Night and From Zero to Hero, said Warner had surmounted and passed so many different obstacles in his life over the years from his childhood to now, and it was not like him to allow anything to defeat him whether it was a virus or fighting his legal battles.
“He is going to fight his way out of it, I am sure. He has done so much good for so many people despite what a lot of people think about him. And I am sure the weight of all the prayers by so many people will weigh in his favour. Like so many Trinidadians and people across the world, whose lives have been touched by Jack Warner, I too, wish him a speedy recovery.”
Morvant Caledonia United head coach, Jamaal Shabazz called Warner a ‘warrior’ who always maintained that disposition. He believes Warner was in God’s hands and proposed.
“Now is a time of serious uncertainty and it is important for us to turn to our Lord and draw inspiration for all aspects of our lives."
On Wednesday efforts to get updated information on the former politician’s condition proved a challenge as family and executive members of the Warner-formed Independent Labour Party (ILP) refused to divulge further details, saying Warner was a private citizen and the state of his health was a private matter.
Warner 77, unsuccessfully contested the Lopinot/Bon Air West constituency in last month’s August 10 general election, after which, he announced via his Facebook page he was exiting politics.
In the August 20 post, Warner, a former minister of national security, wrote, “I have chosen to exit from electoral as well as all other kinds of politics and for once, hopefully unperturbed, enjoy the evening of my life with my family and close friends. My political journey was rough but I enjoyed every moment of it. I may not live long enough to witness any transformation in my constituency, but never forget that I tried and that I love the constituents of Lopinot/Bon Air West for whom I would have given my all.”
After the election, Warner, a diabetic, had been experiencing health problems and was privately tested near two weeks ago for COVID-19 with an initial negative diagnosis, but subsequently retook the test on Tuesday after remaining unwell. The latter presented a positive conclusion.