Garry Griffith proud of encouraging women for applying firearms licence

Former Police Commissioner of Trinidad and Tobago Garry Griffith advised more women to apply for firearm licenses as part of self-defence.

Friday, 4th February 2022

Former Police Commissioner of Trinidad and Tobago Garry Griffith advised more women to apply for firearm licenses as part of self-defence. He said he made the call in 2020 and is proud to see more women becoming self-reliant. He also Fitzgerald Hinds, Minister of National Security, concerned about 'militarizing' citizens by giving suitably qualified individuals a Firearm. "I am proud of the call I made to women in 2020 to apply for a FUL. Hundreds and hundreds heeded my call, and today they are not only able to protect themselves, but they are also in a better position to prevent their children and other family and friends from being harmed," said Griffith. Gary Griffith also shared several other initiatives he took as the police commissioner at protecting women and children in particular during his tenure, including:

The formation of the Gender-Based Violence Unit.
Drafting for the establishment of the Special Offences Unit, which has been shut down on my departure.
The deployment of the TTPS APP and Online reporting, both of which made it easier to report crimes, directly aiding victims of abuse; and with their anonymous feature, also encouraged neighbours and friends to make reports.
The APP also had an SOS feature that facilitated immediate contact with an emergency response if you felt you were in imminent danger and could not text or make a call.
482-GARY allowed persons to easily text and report the crime, and my social media pages also facilitated the same.
I also strongly advocated for changing the laws so women could legally carry pepper spray.

He also took a dig at Fitzgerald Hinds, Minister of National Security and said he (Hinds) and his handlers oversee this severe spike in crime that has gripped Trinidad and Tobago in the last five months. "The increase in crime has us on course for over 700 murders in a year, yet continue to only focus their efforts on their political survival, with the 'Get Gary' campaign, which seems to be their only motivator, please take heed that the next big voting block they may alienate, after already being rejected by Tobagonians, are women," he added.