By Sue-Ann Wayow
FORMER police commissioner says, “My days of service are not over!”
This was his declaration on Thursday following the ruling of Justice Nadia Kangaloo that his appointment as acting police commissioner was unconstitutional.
As a result of that ruling as of midnight Thursday, there will be no acting commissioner of police. National Security Minister Fitzgerald Hinds said that Mc Donald Jacob who ceases to be acting police commissioner will continue to be at the helm of the Trinidad and Tobago Police Service (TTPS) in the position of Deputy Police Commissioner.
In a video statement on Thursday, Griffith said the whole situation could have been avoided and all that was needed was for the completed merit list to be handed over to Parliament so that Parliament can select “whomever they desire.”
The merit list that was may have been submitted to President Paula-Mae Weekes has not yet reached Parliament and the Opposition has been calling on the President to make a statement on the matter.
Griffith stated, “My issue with this entire process though is that it was all avoidable. There are certain institutions that held all the power. I could have been told at any stage that a direct direction was preferred. There was no need to attempt to impute my integrity. This is the only aspect of this saga that I will continue to fight to the end.”
He listed all the missteps of the entire process of which Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley admitted there were errors which resulted in the resignation of all four members of the Police Service Commission (PolSC), the independent body in charge of the selection process.
Griffith described those as a comedy of errors all of which demonstrated a level of desperation to have him removed from office without due process.
He said, “I did not force anyone to appoint me as acting commissioner, in fact I never even applied for this post of acting commissioner. I did not force anyone to adjust the law to allow me to act nor can I force anyone to appoint me as Commissioner of Police.”
Referring to the judgement, Griffith said, “Time will tell the wisdom of this decision. For now, I will just watch the conspiracy continue to unfold.”
The former top cop said he continued to hold the TTPS in high regard and he encouraged officers to continue doing their duty and not allow anyone to belittle their character.
“I hope that due process will now take place to appoint a leader in quick time,” Griffith added.
He maintained that the fight was not personal but national and what transpired showed “a frontal attack on our democracy.”
And Griffith also thanked Dr Rowley for allowing him the opportunity to serve three full years as police commissioner.
