There is now a war of “wimp” words between national Security Minister Fitzgerald Hinds and former commissioner of police Gary Griffith.
Hinds pelted some verbal “big stones” in the Senate on Tuesday - including at a former Police Commissioner he called an “untrustworthy wimp!”
Hinds called no names.
But yesterday, former CoP Gary Griffith tossing it back, challenged Hinds to make the “wimp” accusation outside of the Parliament.
Hinds made his comments in concluding debate on the Firearms Amendment Bill 2022. After 11 hours of debate, it was passed in the Senate in the early hours of yesterday with amendments and minus a controversial clause.
Hinds also replied to, rebutted and railed at detractors in his closing address. He said he’d heard some talk about “some Minister” and in fielding questions from a Parliamentary Joint Select Committee on illegal firearms, “When I was giving my testimony, one JSC member (the Oropouche East MP), I saw him on his cell phone getting message.”
“What he read to us in the Committee, having read his phone, suggested to me that it was a message I sent to a former Commissioner of Police and who, like a wimp... untrustworthy wimp! And would share that with him and I’d hear that from time to time coming from the Opposition, like if is some issue,” Hinds said.
“I’m a very experienced politician, man and lawyer - I defend cases in the criminal courts for years from murder on to obscene language. I’m a very experienced man, I know good when I see it - and I know rubbish when I see it.”
Hinds added, “I want to tell you this: I never ask nobody to give no licence to none of my ‘partner or family’. Several members of the protective services - about four or five - indicated to me that they had applied for firearms and the process was being delayed and I asked then-then Commissioner to look into those applications, already made...
“I did that, knowing full well at the beginning, during and at the end of the day, the wholesome discretion was for the Commissioner. Up to today as we speak, the licences were not yet granted - yet I have to hear childish folly from some of my friends on the other side.”
Circulating on social yesterday was the rerun of the JSC meeting where JSC member, UNC MP Dr Roodal Moonilal, asked Hinds about recommending anyone for firearms and Hinds saying he hadn’t made “any recommendation” to any CoP for anybody for firearm.
Hinds also threw remarks following criticism from UNC Senator Anil Roberts. Hinds said all his life he’d fought against crime.
“I never call no shot on no footballer, farmer, gardener or no deejay. I never killed one person yet. In the course of my work as a police officer, I engaged in a couple incidents but I never killed anyone,” Hinds added.
“Not too long ago Lifesport I’m aware, killed many young people in Malabar and East Trinidad and otherwise, led to the killing of a high-level personality in T&T. I’m not ever accused of having secret meetings with gang leaders anywhere in T&T, to the extent that the police have to follow me. Police ent looking for me nowhere and I don’t pay criminals to go and deal with nobody!”
Hinds also said he’d received a list from law enforcement of people requiring homes and he sent the list to HDC last week, recommending these officers be considered in the circumstances.
Gary: You are the wimp!
In a direct responds to Hinds yesterday, ex-Police Commissioner Gary Griffith stated, “Fitzgerald Hinds ... You have the audacity t be calling anybody a wimp?
“You ever see yourself and your performance? You’ve been rated as the worst politician and NS Minister in T&T’s history, everybody wants to get rid of you except your failed political leader! You want to compare my track record to yours, brother?!”
Griffith added listing his achievements.
“You decided to run like a little coward when people kick water on you. That’s what you call a wimp.”
“Fitzgerald Hinds, instead of hiding like a coward in Parliament to call people names, why don’t you come out in public and say that if you name man. But you’re not. You know why? Because you ... are the wimp!”
Griffith’s NTA also issued a statement saying he was vindicated on several points in Tuesday’s debate.