Police Commissioner Gary Griffith has described the recent outrage over the alleged bias by the TTPS regarding the handling of a pool party at Bayside Towers, as the perpetuation of an “us and them” narrative. He maintains that his officers acted in accordance with the law and denied that certain groups of people are treated differently by police.

See the Commissioner’s full statement below:

In too many incidents the enforcement of law comes across as uneven to the general public, causing disquiet in the national community, something that could be resolved with clarity as to the interpretation of the regulations, supported by public awareness campaigns, and simple citizen responsibility.

Law enforcement officers are being placed in too many situations requiring this type of interpretation and leaving them exposed to the public’s ire, undermining morale at the worst possible time.

The most recent public debate pertains to the issue of public versus private property/spaces and should the public health ordinance relate to both spaces.

This is further exacerbated by the underlying issues of perception of bias, as it pertains to class, location, social strata, and race.

Toward this end, I advise the following:

-The law is clear as it pertains to the guidelines relating to public spaces. The Trinidad and Tobago Police Service have and continue to operate within the parameters of the law – it is not our role to interpret, correct, adjust or rectify the law – it is our job to enforce it.

-As it pertains to the debate stating ‘but they charged other persons [zessers] on private property’, be advised, I have spoken with every Divisional Commander, and none of them has shared any occasion where they charged anyone for breach of the COVID 19 Regulations at their private residences. Persons were dispersed or given warnings – as was done in the current case of interest.

– Where a private residence is, however, used for the hosting of a public, ticketed event, this becomes a public space, and the regulation charges will be implemented, and charges laid;

-It is rather unfortunate when we seek to perceive everything through the lens of ‘us’ and ‘them’, please be reminded of the numerous times persons were found in breach of the regulations in PUBLIC SPACES and were also dispersed and sent off with warnings – this never made front-page headlines.

-This period continues to be extremely challenging for the members of the TTPS, who have been on the front line constantly and consistently, and who have been under the most stringent scrutiny with every move they make, in attempting to negotiate ever-changing regulations, whilst attempting to maintain a balance between citizens’ rights and responsibility.

A simple look at the Global landscape as it pertains to the Police management of COVID regulations would easily identify that the men and women of the TTPS have been doing quite a commendable job in our management of this ever-fluid situation;

-We have now also heard from a number of quarters ‘well that means I am going home to host a big party and no one can do me anything’ – please be reminded that the intent is not to stop anyone from enjoying their freedoms, it is to support the Public Health Regulations, as such, if anyone takes it upon themselves to host such within their private spaces, the responsibility of the Public Health fallout will rest squarely upon yours and your guest’s shoulders;

-In terms of the regulations in and of themselves, we have sought and received a number of variations of interpretations, and we look forward to the Government’s clarity moving forward.