POLICE Commissioner Gary Griffith says the Trinidad and Tobago Police Service (TTPS) has no authority to lock up anyone for leaving his/her home during the Covid-19 lockdown that started on midnight on Sunday and ends on April 15.
In a voice note, Griffith said the police could only work within the powers given to them
He said during the lockdown the only additional powers given to the police service to charge were for assembling in groups of more than ten and if non-essential businesses remain opened.
Griffith said, “As it pertains to persons leaving their homes, persons exercising or driving from one place to the other, the police we have no authority to arrest anyone.”
He added that it does not mean that the police want people to go out or to exercise but that they could only operate within the law.
Griffith also slammed Rhoda Bharath for telling the public not to listen to the commissioner of police.
He said this was a very serious statement by “someone who is a communications person for the state, is this a decision made on behalf of the state…where someone who is paid on behalf of the state is telling the public not to listen to the commissioner of police.”
Griffith said Bharath does not understand the difference between government policy and the law.
He added, “She stated that the minister of national security had given an order so that people must adhere to his order and not listen to the commissioner of police.”
Griffith said, “No, the minister of national security cannot give an order to the public, the minister of national security and other ministers they give policies, the government can then make and amend laws.”
He added, “There is no law that is amended that police can enforce to stop people from leaving (their homes).
Griffith said the police would have many roadblocks and continue to plead with people to stay indoors as much as possible.
Listen to what Police Commissioner Gary Griffith said:
