Why is Police Commissioner Gary Griffith on Facebook reprimanding and responding to his critics?
According to the top cop, he has a right to defend his name against the lies, misinformation and mischief being perpetuated.
The Commissioner also said that he is willing to lock up his own mother if she breaks the law so those who have an issue with some of the guests at his end-of-year party should think twice about criticising him.
Speaking to the Express by phone yesterday, Griffith said he is sacrificing his life for country and he will not let the minority of people who tarnish his name on social media to have free rein with their comments.
He said in Trinidad and Tobago, “perception is reality” and one post by someone on their page can sway the minds of their followers and he has the right to clear up whatever inaccuracies.
“Why is it that people have a right to say what they want about Gary Griffith, it could be lies, it could be misinterpretation, it could be anything to undermine and discredit me, but it is not my right to clarify? One thing I feel strongly about is my name and I am not going to sit idly by for persons to try and tarnish my character with false and mischievous information,” he said.
Griffith said Saturday’s cocktail reception, which was hosted at the Police Commissioner’s St James residence, is an event that he has hosted for the past 20 years.
“Because of my popularity, because of the number of persons throughout society who trust me, they believe in me, they see me as their friend, no other individual in this country has the ability to do what I did where I am able to embrace and invite persons from all walks of life in our society—the politicians, diplomatic corps, businessmen, persons in the judiciary, members of the media, police officers, Defence Force members…who at times can be seen as major stakeholders in the development of our country,” he said.
Event an ‘ice breaker’
Griffith said he saw this event as an “ice breaker” to stop the “bitterness, the division that has killed this country” and steer people towards “vision 2020”.
There were criticisms about Griffith’s guest list, which included persons with charges against them such as Watson Duke and Jack Warner.
Griffith dismissed such arguments as “petty”.
“If my mother breaks the law I would have arrested her, she would probably beat me when I get back home, but that’s the way I am. When there was the incident with the relative of Mr (Stuart) Young, that was a relative of mine also that I arrested, that is my blood line and it gave me no pleasure, but I did what I had to do.
“Mr Watson Duke is a friend of mine…on Friday I was associating myself with him, the next Friday I arrested him and the following Friday I can go out with him. How I arrest is not how I party. I would do what is required within the law, I would not use my position to target anyone,” he said.
“When I listen to some of the stupid, petty comments by some individuals…they saw certain members of the UNC (United National Congress), they said, you see, he is always a UNC, there are no PNM (People’s National Movement) people there. When they were informed that Minister (Dennis) Moses, Mayor (Joel) Martinez and other high-ranking officials of the PNM were there they say, you see, he is a puppet of the PNM,” he added.
He said he will not shirk his responsibility and his attack on crime.
“I work 18 hours a day, seven days a week, I have run my blood to water, I have put my life on the line, there have been over 27 death threats, assassination plans, there have been assassination plans with shooters assigned to kill my wife and my son and to hear the kind of stupid comments from persons. What I am doing in sacrificing for my country, many of those who criticise me can’t do one per cent to lift a finger,” he said.
Griffith said it is all very frustrating but he takes comfort in knowing that the majority of the population stands behind him.
