Fifa vice-president and Works and Transport Minister Jack Warner, who has found himself in controversy since his Cabinet appointment, is calling for the immediate resignation of chairman of the Integrity Commission, Dr Eric St Cyr. Warner's demand followed statements made by St Cyr, who called on Warner to choose between his Cabinet position and his long-standing office as Fifa vice-president. "I am calling on Dr St Cyr to step down immediately as chairman of the Integrity Commission, and distance himself from any probe involving the church at the Heights of Guanapo. "He must do what is right by stepping down." Speaking with a daily newspaper over the weekend, St Cyr said: "My personal view is that I think he (Warner) should choose. "I know that he is likely to be a very tremendous Minister of Works and so on, but I also know that he really serves the nation and the region on this world platform, but as difficult as that may be, I thought that he should choose one or the other."
Warner, who spent Father's Day relaxing at a Mayaro beach house with his two sons, expressed disappointment in St Cyr's comments. "I am disappointed that the Chairman of the Integrity Commission would come out and publicly express his personal opinion on Jack Warner in a matter involving collective responsibility," Warner said. Accusing St Cyr of being "biased and prejudiced," Warner deemed him as "no different from any other chairmen of the Integrity Commission." Warner said he intended to write St Cyr an official letter, expressing his disappointment. Warner also called on St Cyr, who is said to be a pastor, to excuse himself from any probe into the construction of the controversial church at the Heights of Guanapo in Arima. Meanwhile, former works and transport minister Colm Imbert disagreed with Warner, saying that St Cyr was entitled to freedom of speech.
"Where is it written that the Chairman of the Integrity Commission cannot speak? Dr St Cyr is entitled to freedom of speech," Imbert said yesterday. According to Imbert, "at this point," Warner was "not guilty of anything," but it may be difficult for him to function as a Cabinet minister and pursue many of his business ventures. Citing that a code of ethics was different from a code of conduct, Imbert explained that a code of ethics was merely a guide, and hence not mandatory. A code of conduct, Imbert said, was governed by the Integrity and Public life Act, and hence mandatory by law. "There is also a section that speaks of conflict of interest, but at this point I don't believe Mr Warner is guilty of anything. "But I have always believed that it may be difficult for him to function as a Cabinet minister and to pursue his other business interests that would not benefit his family or himself," Imbert said.
Regarding the issue of the church, Imbert also disagreed with Warner that St Cyr should not be involved in an official probe. "If we follow Mr Warner's argument, it just does not make any sense, unless there is a connection between St Cyr and the church at Guanapo," Imbert said.