Griffith: Politicians using pens to erode democracy

National Transformation Alliance political leader Gary Griffith says 34 years after the attempted coup, TT is again experiencing a time in which it almost lost its democracy.

Speaking at the commemoration of the 1990 attempted coup at the Red House, Port of Spain on July 27, he said the government was deliberately trying to infringe on the independence of institutions.

He claimed they were doing so by interfering with or trying to control people like the Commissioner of Police, Director of Public Prosecutions, the director of the Strategic Services Agency (SSA), the Auditor General, the head of the Central Bank and members of Integrity Commissions.

“We are actually seeing the country almost repeating history based on what happened 34 years ago when we almost lost our democracy because of terrorists trying to overthrow the government.

“What we are seeing now 34 years later, is a system where the present government is using democratic dictatorship where they are deliberately manipulating the democratic process of this country.

“This is not much different from what took place 34 years ago. Those individuals used a gun, these politicians are using their pen.”

He hoped those who could challenge the government’s actions stand up without fear and not be intimidated.

Griffith said the most recent example of that dictatorship was that of firearm dealer Brent Thomas who, in 2022, was arrested in Barbados by the police there, handed over to officers assigned to TT’s Professional Standards Bureau and returned to Trinidad on a plane linked to the Regional Security Services on request by Caricom IMPACS (the Implementation Agency for Crime and Security).

At a Court of Appeal hearing on July 24, the state admitted the detention and return of Thomas to TT was unlawful.

He claimed the only the only way police officers could leave TT was on approval from the National Security Minister.

“The Commissioner has no authority to send any police officer outside the territorial waters of TT without the requisite approval of the Minister of National Security. If the police hockey team has to go to Barbados, the minister must approve. If the Defence Force football team as fete match in Europe, the minister has to approve.

“So for police officers to leave on an operation to abduct someone, the Minister must approve. What this means is that the minister gave approval and authorisation for the police to take part in an unlawful act. That is misbehaviour in office. Why has the Commissioner of Police not acted?”

He said the NTA wrote Police Commissioner Erla Harewood-Christopher, the Police Complaints Authority and the Police Service Commission about the matter three months ago but they did not respond.

He said it took 24 years for a government to set up a Commission of Enquiry into the events of the attempted coup and he was the only national security minister to implement any of the recommendations, all of which were dismantled by the government over the last ten years.

“Instead of even looking at the other 26 (recommendations) that have not been touched, you actually removed and dismantle what I implemented to prevent a repeat of 1990. It is mind-boggling that we would have seen what took place in 1990 and 34 years later, we have a present government that, for almost 10 years have refused to lift a finger to prevent a repeat of 1990.”

Griffith said there would always be a concern about a repeat, which was why the SSA existed. But he said it was madness that the Prime Minister made accusations about another plot to overthrow the government by rogue agents of the SSA and no one was arrested.

On July 3, PM Dr Keith Rowley revealed details of the audit of the SSA in Parliament, alleging a plot by rogue members of agency, a cult, to overthrow the government.

In March, the director of the SSA Major Roger Best was sent on leave and he along with 27 other employees were subsequently terminated.

Griffith said such an action affected TT’s international relations, its reputation, trade and embarrassed the SSA. He was also concerned the 28 people who were fired from the SSA would sue the state, costing taxpayers millions of dollars.

A National Security release said they were terminated on grounds and circumstances which violated the provisions of the SSA Act and the SSA (Personnel) Regulations 2020.