By Sue-Ann Wayow
POLITICAL leader of the National Transformation Alliance (NTA) Gary Griffth is challenging Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley to take a polygraphy.
Griffith threw out the challenge to Dr Rowley on Wednesday night at a joint political meeting with the United National Congress (UNC) at the SWWTU Hall in Port of Spain.
He joined the stage with UNC political leader Kamla Persad-Bissessar who hailed him as the best commissioner of police, the country ever had and someone she leaned heavily on when she was prime minister.
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Griffith in a dramatic start to his speech, began by unbuttoning his blue shirt to reveal a yellow jersey underneath much to the delight of the crowd.
He said he underwent polygraph testing in Miami of his own accord with a reputed polygrapher who tests police officers in Miami and has proof that he has not lied.
“Based upon careful analysis of the polygrams used to examine the subject, it is the opinion of this examiner that the subject, being myself, was truthful to the responses. There was no deception indicated to any of the relevant test questions asked,” Griffith said.
Some of the topics he was questioned about were whether or not he accepted any inducement when he was CoP and if he ever received anything valuable to influence decision-making
Griffith said, “I have a polygraph test to prove that I do not lie and every single thing that Keith Rowley said as it pertains to firearm, he lie.”
“However, what I want to do now is to challenge Keith Rowley to do polygraph testing. He and Gary Griffith.”
He had a series of questions that he would like Dr Rowley to answer on that test.
They include:
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Did you ever use your position to benefit financially by illegal activities inclusive of state assets to move it from one location to another to financially benefit yourself?
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Did you ever harass me to influence the police to investigate political opponents?
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Have you ever compromised your position as a Member of Parliament to influence independent bodies to make decisions to benefit you politically?
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Tell us everything you know about Emailgate. Do you know where the typewritten Emailgate really came from?
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Did you ever harass a CoP to fast track approval for explosive licences for your friends in Tobago?
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Did you ever harass a CoP to get FUL dealership licence for your partner in Tobago to sell hundreds of guns for them?
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Do you communicate or influence police officers to target political opponents?
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Did you influence or intimidate the previous Police Service Commision chairman to withdraw a Merit List illegally as this was never approved by the Police Service Commission?
When Persad-Bissessar spoke afterwards, she also asked of Dr Rowley to say whether the serious allegations made by Chief Secretary of the Tobago House of Assembly (THA) Farley Augustine earlier that day were true.
She also asked that of Commissioner of Police Erla Harewood-Christopher.
Persad-Bissessar like the Opposition Members of Parliament said the allegations were serious enough to warrant an explanation from those implicated.
“Tonight, I call upon them to tell us if these allegations are true,” Persad-Bissessar said.
Again mentioning the allegation of cheques being given to United National Congress (UNC) “Judases” she said the People’s National Movement (PNM) will do anything for political gain.
“They will use anything they can to those who they see as political opponents,” Persad-Bissessar said.
She told supporters, “Yesterday was Gary, today is Farley, tomorrow it could be anyone of you!”
