CoP hires SC to appeal FOIA ruling on newspaper

COMMISSIONER of Police Gary Griffith has every intention of appealing Justice Ronnie Boodoosingh’s decision that he should give Express journalist Denyse Renne certain information she asked for in a Freedom of Information request.

While the CoP has not yet filed an appeal, he has retained Senior Counsel Reginald Armour and sources close to Griffith said Armour was going through the judge’s decision.

Renne sought answers on which firearm users' licence applicants got guns, which retired police were rehired, which soldiers were brought into the Police Service, who got contracts, and how much in salaries was paid to these retired police.

Boodoosingh ordered Griffith to provide some of the answers the journalist sought. In his decision, the judge said Freedom of Information requests must be dealt with promptly as the public has a right to this information in the interest of transparency.

“There is a general duty on public authorities to provide information. This is done to ensure openness, transparency and accountability in the exercise of public functions. Citizens are entitled to ask for information and to be given it unless there is good reason for not doing so,” he added.

In a statement last Thursday, Griffith said he intended to appeal the ruling and also chastised the Trinidad Express, accusing the newspaper of bias.

"To allude (sic) that a judge telling the police to provide information on persons hired by the police service, is being seen as a judge failing the police (sic), shows poor and unprofessional journalism at the highest level," Griffith said.

"So now, hundreds of manpower hours will be spent, and dozens of police will be deployed to extract data and do research instead of doing real police work…just because the Express wants the information under the FOIA."