NTA leader Gary Griffith: We cracked crime

National Transformation Alliance leader Gary Griffith, in his first political meeting, doubled down on statements he made as commissioner of police, saying under his leadership the police suppressed criminal activity and gave people a sense of safety.

But because of corruption, pettiness and political interference, crime has once again got out of hand, he charged.

Addressing a full room at the Diego Martin Community Centre on Wednesday evening, Griffith said in 2018 there was 14 per cent public confidence and trust in the police service. As CoP he turned that around to the point where public confidence moved from 14 to 55 per cent. He said as minister of national security he oversaw the highest reduction in serious crimes, and as commissioner he led the police in bringing about the highest reduction in violent crime in history.

“We started putting systems in place to ensure accountability. Crime moved from the number one concern in the country to number four, behind health, education and the economy,” Griffith said.

“Thanks to (his wife) Nicole Dyer-Griffith, through I Support Our Service, you were seeing many police vehicles and police stations maintained."

From September 1, 2020-September 1, 2021, the number of murders was 342, he said – "the lowest murder rate for 18 years."

People said that was because of covid19, he said, but argued, rather: "In February, March and April 2020 there was no covid19.

"You would recall that 2020 was the safest Carnival in TT. Crime was going down – and there was a reason for that. We cracked it.

“The Special Operations Response Team was a unit that played a fundamental part in making the country feel safe. It dealt with the rogue element in the police service and pegged back criminal activity and put fear in them. It played an important role in putting an end to kidnapping.

But he said because of "evil" and "pettiness," that had changed.

"Now crime has gone back to the number one concern. The year after my first full year there were 586 murders, 240 more murders than,,,the year before. It was the highest spike in crime in TT history. From January-August last year there were 252 murders. From January-August this year there are over 400.”

He said despite no longer being CoP he had sent several messages to the Prime Minister, the acting CoP and the former minister of national security with suggestions to tackle crime. He said they ignored him.

“Like little children, they all blocked me.”

Griffith promised to bring the same efficiency and capability that he brought to the police service to the entire nation if TT would vote for him in the next election. Using the “LAMMP” module – leadership, accountability, management and measurement of performance – Griffith said, the NTA will turn the country around.

He said the NTA would make sport a core ministry.

He added that “not if, when” he is elected into office he will personally take control of the Ministry of National Security.