By Alicia Chamely

FORMER Commissioner of Police Gary Griffith is commending the government and opposition for their unanimous decision to support the selection of Allister Guevarro as the new Commissioner of Police (COP).

Guevarro’s selection was debated before Parliament on Friday during the 2nd Sitting of the House of Representatives after the motion was piloted by Minister of Homeland Security Roger Alexander. Both the government and the opposition supported the selection of Guevarro for COP and Wayne Mystar to act as Deputy Commissioner.

In a release on Saturday, Griffith said, “The government and the opposition agreeing on one issue of such national importance is rare but welcome news. And seeing that over 95% of the country who voted supported both government and opposition, I ask that all law-abiding citizens accept and support the decision made.”

He called this a “bold move” to increase the public trust in the nation’s independent institutions.

Griffith accused the former People’s National Movement government, lead by Dr Keith Rowley of eroding the public faith in and the independence of the Police Service Commission.

He said, “We had a government manipulating a Police Service Commission to try to remove a Police Commissioner because of his refusal to be a political puppet and to be influenced to target political opponents—causing the whole Police Service Commission to resign in disgust.”

Griffith said, “It takes real courage and trust in our Independent Institutions by the PM to take such a risk and proceed with a recommendation from a Police Service Commission that was also hand-picked by a politically selected President.”

Referring to the Merit list fiasco, wherein former Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley was accused of interfering with the independent process of selecting a COP, Griffith said he hoped now with a new COP an investigation would be opened for misbehaviour in public office and those found guilty would face the rule of law.