Different Strokes For Different Folks? The Police Commissioner Doesn’t Think So

September 9, 2020

Different Strokes For Different Folks? The Police Commissioner Doesn’t Think So

Questioned about the Trinidad and Tobago Police Service’s inconsistent treatment of persons found breaching COVID-19 regulations, Police Commissioner Gary Griffith said his officers cannot be judged on what they choose to record.

He made the statement at Wednesday’s TTPS media briefing, after it was noted that Sea Lots residents were filmed and shamed by officers, however attendees at a private pool party in the Bayside Towers gated community were spared equal embarrassment.

“So the police are going to be judged based on if it was recorded or not? You see, I can’t speak on behalf of ignorant people. If you are going to judge the Police Service based on who did or who do did not make a recording, I mean, what am I to say to that? I can’t defend or speak on behalf of stupidity,” Griffith said, instead choosing to focus on the fact that both groups, despite the treatment meted out to them, were spared charges.

Earlier on Wednesday, Health Minister Terrence Deyalsingh, when asked about the Bayside incident, said he would have to approach the Attorney General on the issue.

“I have been begging people not to host these types of events in your private properties. I will have to talk to the Attorney General to see if it is possible, because these are serious constitutional areas we are going into now. People have a right to privacy, it’s in the Constitution, but we don’t need a constitutional argument to tell people that how you conduct yourselves in your private premises will capsize the whole thing; do we need to go that route, in the face of evidence that young people are driving this second wave?’