PM summons Griffith for covid19 talks

Commissioner of Police Gary Griffith and acting deputy commissioners of police Jayson Forde and Mc Donald Jacob were summoned by the Prime Minister to a meeting at the Diplomatic Centre on Monday after a public disagreement on the enforcement of public health laws.

The meeting came after Dr Rowley called on police to enforce public health regulations equally, as he addressed public concerns surrounding the police’s approach to private parties. Rowley spoke on the issue last Saturday during a press conference and addressed the apparent inaction by the police against a group of people who hosted a poolside party at Bayside Towers, one week ago.

When police arrived, the group got a mere warning, which did not interrupt the birthday celebrations.

Rowley said, “The law applies across the board, especially those whose priority is partying...Persons who are partying and spreading this virus must feel the full brunt of the law in TT.”

He said, “It is not for me to tell the Commissioner of Police who to arrest and who not to arrest and how to apply the law. But, as Prime Minister, I can tell the Commissioner of Police that the law must apply to protect us in TT from those who are not prepared to listen…”

The commissioner responded to Rowley's criticism on Sunday saying he was disappointed by his comments which in effect threw the police “under the proverbial bus.”

Griffith said there is nothing in the regulations to allow police to enter private property without a warrant and charge people for committing violations of the Public Health Ordinance.“Is the issue with this Bayside matter the number of people, or the fact it was a party, or the fact it was on social media, or the fact that they are perceived as rich?”

Griffith called on the government to give clear directives on how the police should enforce the laws to prevent the spread of covid19.

Also present at Monday's meeting was Attorney General Faris al-Rawi and the Minister of National Security Stuart Young.