Former Police Commissioner Gary Griffith has defended his recent public commentary, stating that his contributions are grounded in experience and aimed at addressing national security challenges.
In a social media post, Griffith said he continues to be sought after by local, regional, and international media outlets due to his background in law enforcement and national security.
“I give information not to please any political party, but based on facts, in the hope that it can both assist many to better understand the subject matter and hopefully also assist in finding solutions to rectify troubling national issues,” he stated.
However, Griffith used the opportunity to criticize what he described as individuals placing “patriotism to party before patriotism to country,” claiming that his comments have drawn backlash from political supporters.
He pointed to crime reduction strategies implemented during his tenure as both Security Minister and Police Commissioner, arguing that practical measures and policies already exist that can improve public safety.
According to Griffith, failure to adopt or build on such initiatives has contributed to current challenges.
Griffith also raised concerns about national security policy, referencing past debates on measures to counter terrorism, including support for international efforts to blacklist organizations linked to extremist groups.
“These organizations get funds and use them to assist in spreading acts of terrorism in different countries or to recruit citizens of a country to travel to designated locations in the Middle East to be trained as terrorists and then return to their home country to be Foreign Terrorist Fighters (FTFs),” he stated.
Despite the criticism, Griffith said he remains committed to contributing to national discourse and offering recommendations to improve safety and governance in Trinidad and Tobago.
