By Sue-Ann Wayow
AT this stage of the application process for the position of Commissioner of Police, there is no conflict of interest relating to Gary Griffith’s application.
Griffith, who held the post for three years up until last year August, has again applied for the position that was recently advertised.
He said he sent in his application just two hours before the deadline last Thursday.
Griffith is also head of the National Transformation Alliance (NTA), a political party that he launched in April.
Speaking with AZP News on Monday, Griffith explained why there will be no conflict of interest.
He said the main parties that hold political power were the People’s National Movement (PNM) and the United National Congress (UNC) forming the Government and the Opposition at the central and local government levels.
Griffith said, “The political party that I am in, holds none (no power). So you cannot be more independent than that… Where I am right now, shows that I am neither PNM nor UNC and they are the two parties that hold all the authority, all the influence so it shows you can’t be more neutral than this.”
He also said, “The other applicants who are applying can’t say the same for themselves.”
Griffith gave an example that someone cannot be a serving police officer and voice his political affiliation.
“At this time, I am not serving. If people say that there is a conflict of interest, it means so when I was Minister of National Security and then I was no longer minister, I should have been eligible to apply for Commissioner. It is no different.”
Griffith, was appointed Minister of National Security in 2013. A former member of the Trinidad and Tobago Defence Force attaining the rank of Captain, he was appointed CoP in 2018.
He has applied for the position three times, including last year.
He told AZP News, “If and when the time comes for me to be shortlisted and all of that takes place, then it will be something totally different. But at this time, I hold no position of authority or bias because I am not a serving police officer. If and when that time comes, that is where it is I would have to make certain arrangements.”
Griffith has consistently stated that he will continue to serve Trinidad and Tobago in any capacity he can.
Currently, McDonald Jacob has been acting in the position since December 2021, following the appointment of a new Police Service Commission (PolSC).
