CoP: 'I wasn't summoned, I was invited'

Commissioner of Police Gary Griffith says he was invited and not summoned to a meeting by the Prime Minister on Monday at the Diplomatic Centre to discuss a difference of opinion on police powers and the enforcement of covid19 laws on private property.

Hours after the Office of the Prime Minister (OPM) released a post on Facebook announcing: "Commissioner of Police Gary Griffith and acting deputy commissioners of Police (Jayson) Forde and (Mc Donald) Jacob attended a meeting this morning summoned by Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley," Griffith sent a release to the media saying he was "invited."

The meeting was hosted after a public disagreement between Rowley and Griffith on the enforcement of public health laws and the police’s approach to private parties over the weekend.

In the release, Griffith said the use of the word "summoned" by the communications unit in the Office of the Prime Minister was unfortunate and "could try and put the Prime Minister in such a bad light when that certainly was not the atmosphere and purpose of the meeting at the Diplomatic Centre (on Monday)."

He said, "It is unfortunate the communications unit of the Office of the Prime Minister does not understand the difference between 'invited' and 'summoned.'”

He said the invitation came from Minister of National Security Stuart Young for him, Forde and Jacob.

Commenting on the outcome of the meeting, Griffith only said it was "very cordial, and now the emphasis will be on all parties moving forward to ensure that the Public Health Ordinance regulations are adhered to by members of the public during the covid19 pandemic."