Wired868 Wired868 for smart sport news and opinion
“[…] Gary Griffith is not unknown to us. What is unknown, is the justification for this claim that he is a ‘change agent’. How has Mr Griffith’s presence in public life enhanced life in the Republic?
“For those who argue that Mr Griffith has the passion and the drive to solve crime, I ask you, where is the proof that he has done so? […]”
The following Letter to the Editor, on the possible appointment of former National Security Minister Gary Griffith as Commissioner of Police, was submitted to Wired868 by Folade Mutota:
The process for selecting the Commissioner of Police is perhaps the most recent brazen demonstration that in Trinidad and Tobago, crime is not our number one challenge but governance is.
This process is not designed for citizen participation in any way and neither the government nor the opposition have made any attempts to engage the population despite an obvious lacuna. The process however has illuminated the enduring reality that the political class sees the masses as colour coded voters and not much more.
To add to our burden of rejection to have a say on who leads this extremely important organisation which is tasked with protecting and serving the population with pride, comes word or rumour that Gary Griffith is the government’s choice for Commissioner of Police and a confirmation by at least three opposition Members of Parliament that Mr Griffith would be acceptable to the opposition.
Such a tragic development is unfortunately not surprising in a land where mamaguy and gun talk gets one high marks for leadership.
Gary Griffith is not unknown to us. What is unknown, is the justification for this claim that he is a ‘change agent’. How has Mr Griffith’s presence in public life enhanced life in the Republic?
(Courtesy Allan V Crane/CA Images/Wired868)
For those who argue that Mr Griffith has the passion and the drive to solve crime, I ask you, where is the proof that he has done so?
Griffith was the advisor to former Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar when she unleashed a state of emergency on this country. It is rumoured that one reason the SoE was introduced was to reduce the homicide rate at the beginning of Persad Bissessar’s term.
Griffith subsequently became Minister of National Security and claimed that there was a reduction in crime during his tenure. I suggest that this claim be contested and a robust evaluation of Griffith’s tenure be undertaken before we rally behind him as CoP.
For example, do we know if or how much of Griffith’s strategies for reducing crime were successful and what criteria were used to determine this success? What exactly did Griffith do to reduce crime and what resources were utilised? What relationships did Griffith establish with his staff in order to lead an effective ministry tasked with securing the state?
It is widely rumoured for example, that Griffith engaged in verbal abuse of staff in the Ministry of National Security in the most vile and dismissive manner. I wonder if that rumour is true and Griffith treated staff—whom he could not fire—in such a derogatory way, how would he treat the officers of the TTPS whom he can dismiss?
Griffith referred to a segment of this population as ‘cockroaches’ and suggested that they should be stamped out. In case we have not noticed, so far for 2018 there have been more than thirty (30) cases of police involved homicides in Trinidad and Tobago.
Should we be concerned about the government’s policy on crime fighting if government is contemplating putting Griffith in charge of the police?
It is to be noted that in June 2018, Fitzgerald Hinds, MP for Laventille West made public his support for a state of emergency. Given Mr Hinds’ senior position in the Cabinet one wonders if the government is not signalling an interest in declaring a state of emergency in selected geographic spaces or nationally to stamp out the cockroaches with Griffith at the helm of its campaign?
If the “attributes which impressed this administration was Griffith’s fearless role in laying bare the LifeSport scandal as well as his firm commitment to the public interest”, I wonder if the government can advise on the status of the LifeSport investigation?
What would happen if it turns out that Griffith was being ‘over-zealous’ or acting in his own interest when he took that action? If Griffith is an ‘out of the box thinker’, then to what extent did he implement or cause to be implemented his celebrated 100 point anti-crime initiative we were bombarded with in 2010; and what were the successes?
Griffith did not accept Bratton’s suggestions for improved welfare for policemen.
(Courtesy Trinidad Guardian)
Griffith has endeared himself to many because too many of us are wedded to the idea that violence must be met with violence. And who better to lead our charge than a fast talking, military man who claims to have the competence and passion to stamp out cockroaches?
Griffith may have the attributes that many of our leaders consider compatible with fighting crime; and this is largely because he says many of the things that they would like to say about the population. But he is not the one to lead the TTPS, which is itself accountable to no one.
The agencies established to provide oversight over the TTPS have been ineffective—perhaps due to no fault of their own but maybe because the TTPS has organised itself as an autonomous cell within the state.
If Griffith is made Commissioner of Police we will all have to live with it; and that in itself is the irony of life in a land in which even when crisis descends there is no room at the table for the masses.
“[…] A true Gens de Arime, Raymond was loved and appreciated for his kind and generous spirit. “He Read more
“[…] Ever since she ran in 2015 on a leader-centric election marketing campaign that sold the virtues of Kamla The Read more
For some weeks this column had been focused on the good, the bad and the ugly of Carnival and its Read more
“A lawless, indisciplined and corrupt nation cannot fight crime.” Pastor Clive Dottin, The People’s Roundtable, January 2024. At The People’s Read more
“[…] The official Ministry of Education press release announcing the hair code […] works to trivialise the issue and divorce Read more
“[…] It is totally unfair to all semi-finalists that a calypsonian who won a competition in Tobago months before, under Read more
They will appoint him to lock up Unc crooks
Not all
Anybody have a better idea right now Please let us here it
The Police Service is a unique environment whereby a person coming from the outside would find it very challenging to navigate. I.e Gibbs.
Remember Jack Warner.. he was the best one for the job the best fixer and was he Fix……… oh yea the fire ambulance . So don t be fooled with Mr.Gary Griffith.
A set of dotish comments as usual we all know crime is taboo for all of us in Trinidad and Tobago we love getting up every day to get our adrenaline going when we read about the murders rape robberies etc and then complain or make stupid comments and the vampires keep fattening their bank accounts from the crime situation and is only when we are affected personally we really want something done
He appears to be the best qualified for the post at this time and maybe now because of his gift of gab we might be kept regularly updated on what is really going on in the TTPS in its efforts to fight the appalling crime situation in our country.
The defining principle of this assessment of Gary Griffith becoming the next CoP is giving insight to mostly negative things. Never was it stated that the TTPS as an entity has hardly ever developed personel who could automatically be elevated to be the CoP. The internal system in the TTPS, through the modus operandi of the Police Association is clear that they are satisfied with the progress in the fight against crime and thereby need no outside intervention to assist. However they are deaf to the cries of the public for better policing. In life change is the constant when other options fail. Let us be reasonable and go for change.
For me you could put the most dumb person in the world just more the current acting police commissioner !
FIVE national security Ministers in the last regime.. No comment on the present one..
Bottom LINE.. CRIME AND DRUGS HAVE ARRESTED THE COUNTRY FAR TOO LONG…
He could hardly do worse than what has passed for policing for the past 20 years
Mr Griffith in my view is the best we have right now, yes he has the passion, drive, he thinks outside the box, he is a change agent but as we have seen with many former ministers of National Security, unless you are a fearless commissioner of police nothing doing.
Welcome Gary. 100% support
And d post is political he would be dancing to d govt tune.
A lot of people anal elastic is quivering…….
Shouldve give watchman a chance
How has the politicians’ presence in public life enhanced life in the Republic?
At least we will get rid of the cockroaches… which is exactly what we need, just that nobody has the balls to commission an exterminator
Well well said
He is D man for top cop I support you have my blessing
His appointment is taking too long and overdue. When it happens, l hope he doesn’t have to combat internal jealous rivalry as already he will be dealing with much as the extermination of pests (cockroaches), yes that is an understated term for the murderous, raping,thiefing criminals today. Sadly like most if not all organizations in beautiful TT, if the TOP BRASS doesn’t support you , then it is just a futile endeavour and we will all continue to live in the same fool’s paradise.
We all are giving comments some open some seems afraid what the ppl of this country needs to do is the right thing and all crime will come to an end but no some wants it that way the way its been going as long as I eating to hell with the rest my hope is that the gentleman if he be successful he would clean house
A flawed system will bring about a flawed result, if given the job I hope he does try to do his best. Reality is we screwed anyways till the system changes, we change and the whole lot of jokers pnm & unc are no more time for fresh serious minded revolutionaries.
Here am I reading this letter hoping for some hard facts to counter his possible appointment only to be disappointed by numerous open- ended questions that serve absolutely no purpose. No conclusive arguments.
Watchman is my Choice.
Why wait until after he applied and was interviewed like every one else to raise all these questions? In my humble opinion, it was no secret that he applied, if people didn’t want him there, then they should have done everything in their power to indicate why. The fact that he was interviewed made him eligible for the position. I don’t think that he is any different to Gibbs or Ewatski who applied for the positions of COP and Dep COP and got the positions. Griffith applied, interviewed and succeeded!!
He is more capable than asshole dillon to do the job.
i think he will be a great COP,i hope he gets it,he has shown that he was unwilling to bow to pressure that is why he lost his job,he showed twice,once in the oval for cricket,and in the panorama semis where a large crowd was pileing up at the gates,to leave his seat and take charge of the situation
Well those who have cocoa in the sun wouldn’t want him there. Remember he was Minister of National Security so he knows stuff and probably will act on what he knows
Hiring people is like making friends. Pick good ones, and they’ll enrich your life. Make bad choices, and they’ll bring you down.
https://www.brainyquote.com
Lets give him a chance, at least he has plans and is more agile than the others.
With what his mouth?
Well I say give him a chance . he is a no non sense professional . people who want to continue to be corrupt and to be part of the problem rather than the solution , won’t want him anywhere near them far less have him for a boss . we need him at this time .
Blessed good night I’m just saying nobody is perfect if however we want a perfect person for the job why don’t we build a robot and and take all what ppl looking for and install a program in the robot in that way everyone will get what they want problem solved just saying real talk. Blessed night my fellow Trinbagoians
Well said
I will not even venture to read the author’s view, I am behind him 100%!
Couldn’t help then can’t help now !
We beating up on Gary. . . Leh we put Dillon then nah. .
Yaa beat up on Gary cuz everyone else done a bang up job so far..
Another member of the elite ready to work for the elite… Riding a wave of propaganda support…I AM NOT CONVINCED THAT YOU REALLY CARE GARY.
God knows best let’s pray .
Well put Abu Bakr nah.
KPMG graded him the highest marks, yet still people who don’t know dey ass from dey elbow commenting, gosh dese f*****g Trinis, hmmmm
Just what we need another career politician running the police force.
Don’t we have enough political influence in the service.
Not only did he tell the truth in the witness tampering case, he was the one that admitted on the vice documentary that politicians in both parties are rotten and corrupt. I remember KPB being angry at him for making those comments at the time. I don’t think he is perfect and I don’t think anyone should expect him to be but honesty without fear, bias or favor is a good start to setting an example and changing the mentality of senior officials. I hope he does a great job lead to prosecution of the big fishes in Trinidad and Tobago. This country too small for so much blatant crime and corruption.
What I am sure about is that no one in the TTPS is qualified for this job so we have no other choice.
Some of you are out to lunch. We need a professional policeman No baggage.
Unfortunately the author provides nothing to substantiate her claim, provide figures and I will listen otherwise this is just ole talk. Give facts during his tenure
We are desperate so the choice looks like Gary but there is no evidence that he is and ace crime fighter a good talker yes
So all you want is change? Why not appoint your Neighbour then?
You do remember that Griffith was national security advisor before right? And national security minister?
Suppose I was to say I am sick and tired of people with short memories?
But what did he do to inspire confidence before? Or to curb crime?
The threats, antics, insults, wearing army boots and going on searches… he did it all before.
Shurland why would you ask if I am an ignorant observer?
So you’re saying his performance as National Security Minister and National Security advisor is irrelevant to the post of Police Commissioner?
Very rational Shurland. Not ignorant at all.
Shurland if it is “real facts” who am I to argue…
I can’t say. I know the Police Commissioner usually comes from within the service and with an understanding of the service.
I can see pluses and minuses to that.
I don’t believe in going back to something that didn’t work and trying to convince yourself that this time it would be different.
For me that is not logic, it is desperation.
Hmmmm, https://m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=10156547792126804&id=788966803
I doubt that a candidate can be found that meets with everyone’s approval. Hopefully the selection was such that the best overall candidate was chosen. Now that it’s done, everyone needs to get behind that person and wish them well and give them a chance to do the job successfully.
He is not the best overall candidate interviewed….in fact, he was last on the list of those interviewed. The government got involved and disqualified those ahead of him. To lend support to him is to accept interference in future appointments …..
Seriously Inzan? did the government ‘get involved ‘ or does the government have a legitimate, specified role in the process of selection?
They don’t like Gary reason because they can’t manulipate he will charge all those corrupt politicians
Strange….this justification sounds vaguely like the “drain the swamp” mantra of Trump. I guess America is doing swell with that right now huh?
Yes, Glen that is so very true!
I’m not too worried about corrupt politicians………it’s the corrupt policemen that I worry about. Incorruptible policemen will always be able to deal with corrupt politicians, but where are those policemen? Do they exist in T&T?
He is a critical witness in a very public legal matter, he has a potential conflict of interest. How can we put a clearly political person in this position???? Are we mad.
It seems that we are. Or, at least, the system forces us into insanity.
and what would u say about minister sininan when it comes to conflict of interest,who own kay donna
Prakash Dhanrajh you really think that case ever going and call in this life time ?
Alyuh start to geh frightened cuz he know all unc a secrets doh worry make sure alyuh take up d cocoa cuz rain coming soon ,Anand and monilal first on d list
With so much bacchanal happening now with the current govt, maybe the low hanging fruit should be investigated first. Anyways, I don’t believe a COP should be talking about locking up people while applying for a job. Geeez
We?
Curtis Chance the COP does not run the judiciary
I do agree with her assertion that governance is a major challenge in this country…somehow..the major political parties and even in the public service select either incompetent or value less or unethical and corrupt persons to high positions in this country
In EVERY sphere of the Public/Teaching Service, there’s a considerable amount of square pegs in round holes. This is because of the implementation of the system of ‘Promotion by Arse-licking’ as opposed to ‘Promotion by Competence’.
He has ideas….as a previous minister of national security he used to communicate with the public daily on the crime situation and what is being done….he lost his job because he refused to lie for kamla and her minions concerning the witness tampering case….that to me is more than enough for him to get the job…a bit of a loose cannon is what is needed to help fix the crime situation…one who would not mince words…that is my personal opinion
He refused to teatify against &&. He was caught on tape admitting to knowledge of a criminal act that was covered up. He should have been disqualified outright!
He did not lie for Kamla. Kamla fired him because she caught him lying.
http://www.caribbean360.com/news/former-security-minister-gary-griffith-says-fired-right-thing
How did his ideas work out last time?
Crime fell a bit…but I was impressed by him talking to the public every chance he got…he was articulate and precise on the efforts being made….U ever hear Stephen Williams a colossal waste of time doesn’t explain anything
Talking is his strong point for sure. It might be instructive that is all you remember if his term eh.
I felt he had a chance. And I won’t say it was a success. What will be different now? Perhaps he can explain that.
He was the man behind the joint army and police patrol also
He was indeed. I didn’t like it then. And I won’t like it now. Did it help? I don’t know any evidence to show it did.
“Crime fell a bit?” ?
The joint army police patrols was an idea which is way more than these fools have… http://www.guardian.co.tt/news/2014-09-28/griffith-we-are-winning-war-against-crime
“The National Security Ministry looks set for a fresh round of musical chairs. Mr Live Wire was unreliably informed that Minister Gary Griffith is now under investigation for impersonating a statistician, molesting common sense and reproducing an unauthorised bootleg of Charlie Sheen’s infamous “I am winning” rant.
“Griffith was certainly definitely wining a bit too close to the big truck when he tried to explain yesterday why 405 murders in 2013 and 16 murders in the first six days of 2014 was no reason for alarm…”
https://wired868.com/2014/01/07/im-winning-griffith-goes-full-sheen-while-murders-soar/
Kheron Khan He knew the meaning of the word security. No unnecessary chat.
Lasana Liburd Guillianni and Kerrick.
..he has moved up through the ranks in many situations…there must have been a reason for those promotions…I guess he has ability and I would support him…
David F Brown …..arselicking also brings promotions for those so inclined. But relative to the crime situation, what did he achieve as Minister of Security???
Unless we have something positive or useful to contribute to the CoP situation lets allow those who do to comment or offer suggestions.
By the way I believe KPMG had him as #1 until the rules were altered to accommodate infivudyals with police experience
He was named by the then opposition leader, Keith Rowley, as one of those behind emailgate, conspiring to kill a journalist. So how can Keith Rowley, the current PM support him to be the CoP? Keith Rowley has serious questions to answer. But then again, this is Trinidad.
Real cocoa in the sun…. that’s the man Gary Griffith.
Pamela Francis …KPMG does not make the rules in hiring the CoP…the PSC is responsible for that…
There is something called cabinet responsibility. When you stray from the pack you are fired. That is why he was sent packing. You can’t put a loose Canon to run the police service. Are people mad in this country? We will see how mad this government is if Gary is chosen. They who said the process was flawed. REMEMBER THAT.
Marie Abraham can u elaborate?????
Those who condone wrong doing would not want Mr Griffith
The author didn’t mention the Emailgate scandal in which Griffith was accused of playing a role. I would think this would be disturbing enough to invalidate his application. Once he is appointed, what happens to that investigation?