Comedy of errors led to St Cyr's departure from Integrity Commission; AG

Attorney General Anand Ramlogan said Wednesday the resignation of Dr Eric St Cyr as chairman of the Integrity Commission was “the appropriate thing to do.” 

Ramlogan said he was not surprised to learn about St Cyr's departure, adding that the former chairman made “one mistake too many.” 

Ramlogan said, “Mr St Cyr made one mistake too many and for the commission it was a comedy of errors and it was reduced to a virtual laughing stock whose individuals would not command respect and inspire public confidence.”

He added that the controversy and the number of “ill-raised and ill-timed controversial statements” that St Cyr made created a sense of discomfort and unease within the Integrity Commission.

“It was those statements that undermined the integrity of the commission and compromised the appearance of its independence as it prompted allegations of political bias, commencing with the premature statements of Jack Warner’s position as a Government minister,” Ramlogan added. 

He said St Cyr’s “ill-raised and ill-timed statements” continued with his “pre-emptive judgement” on Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar when she stayed at the Gopaul’s residence in Pasea, Tunapuna. 

“And now, climax to Mr St Cyr’s enthusiastic premature disclosure about an investigation regarding Jearlean John when no one had even bothered to communicate this fact to her. 

“This of course flies in the face of natural justice and indeed the secrecy and confidentiality provisions that governs the Integrity Commission’s legislation.”