Has Gary Griffith re-applied for the post of Commissioner of Police? That is the question. However, the answer is not forthcoming, at least not just yet.
The deadline to submit applications to the Police Service Commission (PolSC) for the position ended at 4 pm yesterday.
But speaking with Guardian Media shortly before the deadline, Griffith opted to remain mum on his decision.
“I have no comment to make at this time, the main thing is not if Gary Griffith applies or if he wants to apply, it is really what the country wants, you can go and ask the man on the street,” Griffith said yesterday.
However, Griffith did point out that nothing in the criteria for the position prevents him from applying.
It calls for no less than 15 years of experience of increasing responsibility in law enforcement.
“Law enforcement is not just policing, members of the Defence Force are also involved in law enforcement,” he explained.
On his Facebook page labelled “Former Commissioner of Police Gary Griffith,” he posted an article from a weekly newspaper which said he must re-apply to be top cop. On the last check, there were close to 400 comments under the post and a significant number of people urged him to re-apply.
But as he looked back at what occurred the last time, Griffith said the concept of the voice of the people is the voice of God was thrown out the window.
Griffith will host a media conference tomorrow to discuss what he calls significant matters of national security and the current security framework.
As it relates to other applicants, Guardian Media received confirmation that Senior Superintendent Anand Ramesar has submitted his application.
It is unclear whether acting Police Commissioner McDonald Jacob has applied, although last month he said he was considering it. All calls to his mobile phone went unanswered yesterday.
When Griffith’s tenure came to an end in August 2021, he was given an acting position which was subsequently ruled unlawful by the court. He re-applied for the substantive post and the merit list which was presented to President Paula-Mae Weekes on August 11, 2021, was rescinded.
This and the events that followed led to the entire Bliss Seepersad PolSC board collapsing and a new board having to be appointed.
After obtaining legal opinions, the new Judith Jones-led board scrapped the old merit list and restarted the entire process to select a Commissioner of Police. CS