By Sue-Ann Wayow
PRESIDENT Paula-Mae Weekes, Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley and former chairman of the Police Service Commission (PolSC) Bliss Seepersad must all now state exactly what role they played in the tainted process of the selection of Commissioner of Police last year.
Former Commissioner of Police Gary Griffith on Tuesday said if Dr Rowley was so dissatisfied with his handling of matters, he could have simply allowed the merit list to go to Parliament, as it was constitutionally supposed to, and within a matter of weeks, the prime minister could have refused to reappoint him and appointed another as the top cop.
“Instead he chose the way he did which created a whole set of chaos and confusion, that not only leaves Bliss Seepersad open to allegations of misbehaviour in public office, but it also embroiled the President and the President’s office, who may also face serious questions given the fact the Prime Minister has now openly admitted to interfering with the constitutionally independent process of the PSC,” he said.
Griffith said, “The PM needs to answer why he chose the way he did, which has embroiled the country and institutions in chaos and confusion for seven months running, instead of respecting the independence of the process and using his constitutional power to select someone besides me.”
Seepersad will also have questions to answer.
“The President too may also be called upon to explain her role in this affair, which has been described as the biggest constitutional crisis this country has ever faced,” Griffith added.
He stated, “But in the end, whether he directed, influenced or coerced Seepersad, PM Rowley had no right to summon the Chairman of an independent body, and to have cause for the President to refuse to adhere to the law by refusing to forward the Merit List to Parliament.”
Griffith maintained that he will not bow to political pressure.
The Express on Monday published the Prime Minister admitting he was the “high ranking official” who visited the President’s House to meet with Seepersad on the issue of selection of a top cop which led to a merit list not reaching Parliament.
Dr Rowley had also previously admitted writing to the then PolSC stating he was not pleased with Griffith’s performance.
Griffith said it was “equally alarming and unfortunate that a Prime Minister does not know what is required to measure the performance of a Police Commissioner.”
Listing his achievements while at the post he held for three years, Griffith said public trust and confidence of the Trinidad and Tobago Police Service increased from 14% to 55% and major crime was reduced including murders by over 35%.
“One of the two major measurements of performance of a Police Commissioner is the view of the public, and when polled, 89 % of the public asked for me to return, or had no issue with me returning. Keith Rowley deliberately ignored or did not care about their views, instead he used his personal view. This is not leadership,” Griffith stated.
Griffith said, “This means it was something else, and I am sure it involved persons whispering in his ears to ignore the true measurements of the performance of a Police Commissioner because they were afraid for their political future. “
The former CoP also said it was interesting that Dr Rowley had voiced his concern about firearms being issued.
“He was the only one who contacted me to ensure a firearm dealership license be granted for his good friend in Tobago, as well as firearms and explosive approvals for persons also extremely close to him,” Griffith said.
What was also interesting was there was no mention of it in the leaked Stanley John report also published by the Express which it either omitted from the report or not published along with the other information.
“Both conclusions are very troubling,” he said.
