Time for the President to change the Integrity Commission

Chairman of the Integrity Commission Eric St CyrTHE EDITOR: The Chairman of the Integrity Commission Eric St Cyr has been quoted as saying that the controversy surrounding the award of the $40 million contract to Gopaul and Company Ltd could have been avoided if the Prime Minister had stayed at a hotel.

The alacrity in which the Commission’s Chairman responded is similar to the pace of response when the Opposition questioned the appointment of Jack Warner as a Minister whilst at the same time holding an Executive FIFA office.

This response time is a new phenomenon with the Integrity Commission as during the PNM Administration the Commission Chairman was reticent and slow to indicate a public position. What has changed?

To the reasonable minded only the Government has changed. This gives rise to the growing perception that the Integrity Commissioners are sympathetic to the Opposition PNM.

Issues of the Guanpo Church and the awarding of Scholarships are still before the commission but clearly these are not priority and do not bear similar importance to what is now surfacing with the People’s Partnership.

It is unfortunate to say the least when the Commissioner of such a body can come out and make such a nonsensical, obtuse and imbecilic statement on the matter.

If Mrs. Persad Bissessar had stayed at a hotel as suggested would they have been silent on the fact that tax payers money was being spent? Anyone who is cognizant of the politics of Trinidad and Tobago would agree that this would have never been allowed to slide.

As a young person concerned about the state of politics in this country I am calling on the President to remove the incumbent members of the Integrity Commission and install a new board that will deal with all matter expeditiously, fairly and wise.

Kristal Ramroopsingh
Fyzabad

4 thoughts on “Time for the President to change the Integrity Commission”

  1. Where was the integrity commission during the Manning years? Was it wrong for Patos to hire his wife as Minister of Education. Would that have not been a conflict of interest? Was it wrong for Rowley to give CEPEP contracts to family and friends of the PNM? And why is Cyr so eager to give his opinion? Time to get rid of the whole lot and find intelligent, smart people who understand their role….This batch certainly don’t.

  2. “…find intelligent, smart people …”

    You’re talking ostensibly within the context of “integrity”.

    Or are you?

    If not, of what is your troubled heart speaking? Really and truly speaking?

    Because you are speaking, not from a head of incisive thought, but from the context of your fears and animosities.

    You need help and counselling … let the healing begin, ok buddy buddy!

    1. Intelligent and smart were two words that defied the PNM. I remember a PNMite teacher saying to us, I could take anyone train him and give him a job. All you need is a brains. He was right. But having a brain and being intelligent most of the times do not go together. That is all I am saying.

  3. Fire St Cyr
    WORKS and Transport Minister Jack Warner yesterday wrote President George Maxwell Richards, asking for the immediate revocation of the appointment of the chairman of the Integrity Commission Dr Eric St Cyr.

    Jack moves on St Cyr
    UNC chairman writes President: Fire Integrity Commission head

    Warner accuses St Cyr of PNM bias

    Kamla: AG has not yet advised me
    PRIME MINISTER Kamla Persad-Bissessar yesterday said she is yet to be advised by Attorney General Anand Ramlogan on reports that Integrity Commission chairman Dr Eric St Cyr made comments about her stay at the home of friends in Tunapuna, who own a company which is alleged to have been awarded a $40 million contract from National Petroleum (NP).

    Govt: St Cyr’s fate in President’s hands
    Government is waiting on President George Maxwell Richards to remove Dr Eric St Cyr as chairman of the Integrity Commission.

    Chairman mum on calls by Govt to step down
    Rowley, De Lima: Move aside, instead

    Hinds writes Integrity body on Kamla’s ‘misconduct’
    ‘probe PM’s stay at Gopauls, $40m contract’

    St Cyr was tactless
    Dr Eric St Cyr has tacitly compromised his position as Chairman of the Integrity Commission by voicing the view that Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar should have stayed at a hotel, following on last year’s general election, rather than at the home of Ralph and Maureen Gopaul. The fact that the Prime Minister stayed at the couple’s home has become an issue now that their family firm, Gopaul and Company Limited, are bidding for a $40 million contract from State owned National Petroleum.

    PNM calls for PM probe

    Probe Kamla on house, NP contract
    As the Government lobbies the President to remove Integrity Commission chairman Eric St Cyr, the Opposition has formally called on the commission to probe alleged misconduct on the part of Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar regarding her stay at a Tunapuna house and a $40m NP contract.

    More queries after Gopaul’s ad about ‘winning bid’

    TTTI awaits report on NP contract
    Trinidad and Tobago Transparency Institute (TTTI) yesterday called for “speedy passage” of the new procurement legislation.

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