On May 20, Warner wrote Richards asking him to revoke St Cyr's appointment because of an interview the head of the IC gave to the media in which he said Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar could have stayed in a hotel to avoid the controversy over the award of a government contract to a businessman who allowed Persad-Bissessar to stay at his home in Tunapuna after she won the general election in 2010.
Officials have said no contract has yet been awarded. The matter is now under investigation by an independent committee set up by the energy minister. The report will go directly to Attorney General Anand Ramlogan.
Warner argued that St Cyr had brought the commission into disrepute by commenting publicly on an issue upon which he may have to investigate.
In a letter sent to Warner dated May 24, the President said based on the relevant details provided he has determined that no action against St Cyr is coming.
He acknowledged Warner's concerns in which the UNC chairman stated that St Cyr's comments displayed "a clear manifestation of bias" and that there was an apparent connection with the leader of the opposition.
Richards told Warner he has taken "careful note" of the comments in the context of the integrity act and also public calls for St Cyr's dismissal. However he said he cannot agree that there is a case to fire the IC chairman.
"The remarks of the Chairman, notwithstanding, I do not consider that, as a complaint in this regard, your letter provides a prima facie basis in fact to warrant the commencement, effectively of the equivalent of impeachment proceedings under the Constitution," Richards said.
"I do not therefore propose to invoke the prescribed constitutional procedures as referred to above. Further, I am confident that, with respect to all matters before it, the Commission will proceed to discharge its responsibilities according to law and in accordance with the tenets of fairness and fundamental justice."
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