Weeks after a clash on positions regarding the COVID-19 guidelines and how law enforcement should uphold the rules, Police Commissioner Gary Griffith has formally apologized to Prime Minister Dr. Keith Rowley for how he handled the situation, admitting that it was inappropriate.

“Even though what I said was accurate, it was in no way appropriate for me to make such a comment that could allude to the comments I made to the prime minister. Since then, I have written to the honourable Prime minister, I have apologised and I wish to take this time openly to let the public know that I do apologise for the comments I made,”  Griffith said at press briefing on Thursday, insisting that he was not directed to apologize.

“You know what, something that people forget is that Gary Griffith is human and he can make mistakes,” the Commissioner said, admitting that his “strong degree of passion to help” sometimes puts him in decisions to get himself in trouble. 

In early September, Dr. Rowley called on law enforcement to extend the full brunt of the law on “careless” persons who were disregarding the COVID-19 guidelines- this after  TTPS said they could not take legal action against a group of people having a party at Bayside Towers because they were on private property. 

Commissioner Griffith, at the time, accused the PM of “throwing the TTPS under the bus.”

The commissioner’s apology follows a meeting that he had with Dr Rowley and Minister of National Security Stuart Young on September 14.  

A few days prior, the prime minister publicly called on the commissioner of police to distribute the law fairly not paying attention to class or race. Griffith responded with a scathing perspective. 

“He does not have a concern when we release 27 persons who actually broke the law in Sea Lots, swimming in a public place, escaping and trying to evade police captivity, that shows hypocrisy, that is not democracy,” Griffith said at the time.