Opposition Leader Kamla Persad Bissessar is calling on Prime Minister Dr. Keith Rowley to say whether a decision to allow only elected parliamentarians to participate in joint crime talks was made to bar former Police Commissioner Gary Griffith from participating.

The Opposition had previously said it wanted the former Top Cop to be on its team for the bipartisan meeting, however leader Kamla Persad Bissessar says in the latest letter received by Prime Minister Rowley, she was informed that only parliamentarians will be invited to partake in the talks.

Persad-Bissessar further called for the Prime Minister to clarify whether he  would lead the government’s team for the talks.

“In your letter of 12 October 2023 (third letter), your attendance and participation in the proposed discussions appears to be ambiguous. It is reported that you will not be present to steer your team at the proposed talks. For the record, the terrifying crime crisis is a national emergency that requires you to demonstrate and take leadership of this initiative if the Government is serious about having genuine and meaningful  discussions,” the Opposition Leader stated.

She added “This is not the time for the Prime Minister to take a back seat and make this initiative nothing more than a talk shop that can be perceived as designed to save face and do political damage control. I therefore urge you to lead the Government’s
delegation at these critical talks.”

Efforts for both parties to engage in discussions about crime began last month, after President Christine Kangaloo called on both leaders to collaborate to combat the scourge of crime and violence.