Fitzgerald Hinds is either deliberately misleading the nation: Gary Griffith

The fuss over the merit list that ousted Gary Griffith as the Trinidad and Tobago Police Commissioner is not ending. Now, Griffith has once again released another statement, where he said the Minister of National Security is misleading the country. 

The full statement of former police commissioner

Having worked with both Stuart Young and Fitzgerald Hinds I can safely say there is no comparison. In fact, for all my years working with governance officials, Hinds is at the bottom of the barrel.

So it came as no surprise to me when I read an article, that Hinds is asserting that there hasn’t been a surge in crime. And in a move reminiscent of Rowley’s not closing down Petrotrin, Hinds then goes on to tell the population don’t believe their lying eyes but instead focus on his manipulated statistics.

The facts are during my tenure, when Stuart Young was my line minister, we saw the year, with the highest reductions in crime in decades. 2020 saw a 35% reduction in crime across the board, and the highest reduction in murders, in our nation’s history.

Additionally, for the whole of 2021, up until me and my team were no longer there, Trinidad and Tobago was on course for a further reduction in crime of 360 per annum.

Since I became a ‘disappointment’ for Rowley and Hinds ‘advised’ McDonald Jacob to get rid of the 19 contracted persons attached to the TTPS, November 2021 became our deadliest month ever, with 77 murders, and tragically we are now on course for over 600 murders per annum.

In my last 9 months as Commissioner of Police, Jan – Sept 2021, we had 282 murders at an average of 31 per month, and a ratio of 360 per annum. However since my departure, and while Hinds remains as Minister of National Security, from Oct 2021 to Feb 2022, in 5 months, we’ve had 250 murders at an average of 50 per month, and a ratio of 600 per annum, which is the highest surge in our nation’s history.

So whether we use the 77 in November 2021, to define a surge in crime which is a powerful increase; or we use the trend of 600 murders per annum, there can be no doubt to any right thinking citizen that we are experiencing a surge in crime.

But beyond the statistics and the transparent attempt at staging for Hinds to boast of his achievements, citizens are not fooled, because they know that the man who said he saw a piper in the face of a man reaching out for help, and who also said he wasn’t responsible for the safety and security of citizens in TNT, does not for one second care about the truth; which is that citizens KNOW in their heart that they do not feel safe and secure, and that having fallen to fourth, crime, and their safety and security is now back to the number one issue on people’s minds.

This is why even the most hardcore supporter expressed shock when Hinds survived Rowley’s recent cabinet reshuffle. But not me, because having seen Rowley’s ability to ignore truth in preference to holding on to a petty personal grudge, I know, just like Hinds, he also cares nothing for the safety and security of citizens of our nation.

No doubt this may have contributed to PNM Toco/Sangre Grande Constituency Executive John Mason’s call for Rowley to resign as political leader. A call that has gotten him into hot water with the PNM’s disciplinary committee, but it is a sentiment held by many persons in the PNM; even senior members of the executive and the party itself. But sadly, most are paralyzed by the fear that Rowley will bully and victimize them, and as citizens have clearly seen for themselves, that is the Rowley way.

A man totally out of control, who many say shows dictatorial leanings, Rowley’s reign of terror and destruction must be democratically ended, which is why as I continue to meet with and assemble the best and brightest to undertake that task, I want to urge citizens to hold on, because a major Transformation is coming.