Police Service Commission: No discussion about Griffith sparring with PM

Police Commissioner Gary Griffith. -
Police Commissioner Gary Griffith. -

THE Police Service Commission has received no official complaint from any government official about the recent public sparring between Commissioner of Police Gary Griffith and the Prime Minister over the enforcement of covid19 public health regulations.

A source told Newsday the commission had its regular monthly meeting on Thursday but the issue was not on the agenda or was not raised under other business.

The source said while members are well aware of Griffith's "style of communicating," it has never formed the basis of any discussion with him.

"At the end of the day, what do you want from a Police Commissioner? You want that person to implement strategies to treat with crime and ensure the police service is operating optimally."

The commission, the source said, will address any complaint which comes before it but cannot be told by any complainant what to do.

"The Police Service Commission is answerable to the President only. It is an independent body. It does not mean it would not have regard to what is being said, but there is a process to follow and we will follow that process."

On Saturday last week at a covid19 media briefing at the Diplomatic Centre in St Ann's, Dr Rowley called on the police to enforce the regulations evenly so as to avoid the perception of bias.

He said he decided to join the ongoing discussion about how attendees at a recent poolside birthday party at Bayside Towers in Cocorite were simply warned by the police.

The regulations prohibit gatherings of more than five people in a public space. If found in breach, individuals are subject to a fine of $50,000 or six months’ imprisonment.

“The law applies across the board, especially those whose priority is partying,” Rowley said. “Persons who are partying and spreading this virus must feel the full brunt of the law in TT!

“It is not for me to tell the Commissioner of Police (Gary Griffith) who to arrest and who not to arrest and how to apply the law. But, as Prime Minister, I can tell the Commissioner of Police that the law must apply to protect us in TT from those who are not prepared to listen, and to those who are not prepared to fight this fight to bring the virus under control. We can do no more, but we will do the most with what we have.”

But Griffith, in a prior response to the public criticism of the police, said his officers would not go "witch hunting" to arrest people or turn a blind eye to anyone breaking the law on the basis of their ethnicity or social class.

He said clarity was needed from the government on the regulations as it relates to how they apply to people on private property.

Griffith advised his officers to ignore Rowley's assertion that they have the authority to arrest people on their private property for breaches of the regulations.

In an interview on i95.5 FM last Sunday, Griffith said Rowley was reacting because of race.

He said the PM did not speak out in a similar manner when 27 young men bathing at a public beach, in breach of the regulations, were not arrested. Those people, he said, running and hiding in bushes which resulted in them being made to lie on the ground.

“Why the Prime Minister didn’t mention that?

“That shows hypocrisy. That is not democracy.”

He was called to a meeting by Rowley the next day, but details of what was discussed were not made public.

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"Police Service Commission: No discussion about Griffith sparring with PM"

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