UNC moves to impeach president

The UNC executive is planning to ask Parliament to set up a tribunal to investigate President Max Richards with a view to his possible removal from office over the Integrity Commission fiasco.

Read the story: Integrity Commission ceases to exist

Opposition Leader Basdeo Panday told local media the executive of the United National Congress (UNC) agreed this week to approach Parliament on the matter.

He said the Trinidad and Tobago Constitution allows Members of Parliament to move a motion asking the Parliament to set up a tribunal to probe the President. He explained that it requires the signatures of 14 MPs who believe that the president has behaved in a manner that brings his office into hatred, ridicule and contempt.

Although there are 15 opposition MPs in the House of Representatives Panday cannot count on the automatic support of Jack Warner, Ramesh Lawrence Maharaj and Winston "Gypsy" Peters, the so-called dissident RAMJACK group. But they have also expressed disappointment in the president's failure to appoint a new Integrity Commission and would likely sign the peitition if asked.

If the motion goes to the House there is no chance that it will pass. However, it would register the opposition's discontent and place on record the views expressed by both sides during debate on the matter.

There have been calls for the president's resignation from various individuals as well as a number of apolitical interest groups.

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