CoP must give information to reporter by May 12

COMMISSIONER of Police Gary Griffith has until May 12 to comply with a judge’s order to give Express journalist Denyse Renne certain information she asked for under the Freedom of Information Act.

On Monday, Justices of Appeal Peter Rajkumar, Maria Wilson and James Aboud issued the order dismissing Griffith’s motion to set aside a previous ruling by Appeal Court judge, Justice Alice Yorke-Soo Hon. In February, she dismissed his application for a stay of Justice Ronnie Boodoosingh’s ruling on September 2, 2020.

Griffith had appealed Boodoosingh’s decision, but sought a stay of the judge’s order that he must provide the information. Yorke-Soo Hon ruled on the stay application, and held that since the appeal had no good prospects of success, and since the journalist was entitled to the information, the balance was in favour of not granting the stay.

In their order, the three judges dismissed Griffith’s appeal against Yorke-Soo Hon’s order and gave him until May 12 to comply with Boodoosingh’s orders.

He was also ordered to pay the journalist $4,500 in costs.

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; how much in salaries was paid to these retired officers; and details of fees paid to attorneys.

Griffith was represented by attorney Chinara Harewood. Attorney Rumeal Peters represented Renne.