Former Police Commissioner Gary Griffith says the government was left with little choice but to call the state of emergency to avoid possible massive loss of life.
The state of emergency commenced at midnight on March 3 after the National Security Council (NSC) was briefed by the Commissioner of Police.
Mr Griffith says he supported the decision and placed the blame squarely at the feet of the Trinidad and Tobago Police Service.
“I cannot pretend that this did not become necessary because of the failure of the hierarchy of the Trinidad and Tobago Police Service (TTPS) to introduce the necessary tools, equipment, technology, training, assets, and units that we would have seen in proper 21st century predictive policing,” Griffith stated.
“Failure to do that is what has caused the criminal elements to take control of the country and has forced the Police Service to virtually surrender and then ask the government for assistance to have a state of emergency because of their inability to tackle the criminals head on,” he added.
