JOINT TTPS AND SOLDIER POSTS

[00:00:01] Speaker A: The best insight, instant feedback, accountability the all new Talk Radio Freedom 106.5. [00:00:08] Speaker B: Let me turn my attention and say good morning to Captain Gary Griffith and welcome him back to freedom. Good morning to you sir. [00:00:14] Speaker A: Good morning to you. [00:00:15] Speaker C: How are you? [00:00:16] Speaker B: I am good. I am good. Very happy to have you on the program this morning as we deal with this very, very serious issue of whether or not these 30 police stations or police posts. Now they're saying it mobile but I watch the picture of the one in Etihad. I ain't seen no wheels, something mobile supposed to be able to move. I ain't seeing no wheels on that. So that looked like it's a fixed stationary position. Plus a soak away was dug septic tank put down in the ground. So that ain't moving nowhere. You know. What are your thoughts with this? And I also want you to include in your discourse this morning the fact that they now have to rethink the positioning of some of these police posts with law enforcement who may regard the original site as strategically as not strategically suitable. So law enforcement are now telling the minister, hey, that can't work. I don't know if you didn't talk to them before what happened before you roll out these locations, but they're doing it now. So incorporate that in your dialogue with me this morning as we discuss this very important issue as to whether this 30 police post is really going to help with fighting crime. [00:01:30] Speaker C: Yeah, sure. [00:01:30] Speaker A: Good morning again. You know, it is unfortunate, just within the last three weeks I made four major statements, two actually in support of the government as it pertained to the working with the United States for a joint task force and the mandatory requirement for the ID card to be worn. And people on one side of the fence started saying he's looking for a walk. People in the uncsc. That is why Kamala said he was the best commissioner. A week later I voiced my concern about the PDOs and about police posts. The same people who were praising me said that, oh I sour grapes. And the same people who are attacking me initially were saying the man is the most brilliant security person. Right now there's another show going on a fellow station on CNC, 3, Indira Rampassad. Now she's a political analyst. If TKR wins CPL, she will say it's because of the UNC. We are political analysts like herself, Shane Mohammed, criminologists like Randy C. Prasad and media people like an Aramdas. Every single comment you make has to be in support of the UNC and There are people who do the same for the pnm. People don't sit down and analyze a situation. They they always try to find some way to how it will benefit your party or to discredit the party you don't like. As it pertains to the police post. This is no different. Everybody who supports the UNC liney police post, everybody who supports the PNM finds it a problem. Nobody's sitting down and analyzing it is probably one of the most clueless recommendations made. And this is not to blame. The Prime Minister, she is getting recommendation from two persons who held junior middle management positions. They never let more than 10 people. They never had more than $100 to secure. Now they have 20,000 people with 6,000 billion to secure. They've never had leadership from that capacity to understand the experience needed to understand a tactical approach to law enforcement. So the 1970s type of policing, people like Rivera and Roger Alexander, poor fellows, nothing against it, but they don't know. So the first thing they set up a police force. And the sad thing is many civilians will foolishly say yes, it will add to a response, duh duh to all of those people. A police station is not an avenue to a response to a distress call. You can't be so stupid. When you go brother, when you go to Miami, when I saw a police station, when you go New York, when you see a police station, when you go London. Although we love to talk about the white people country, the developed country, but we saw backwards. We have people here who have never gone for the north of Shaka Shakari, for the east of Miyaro. So they will sit down in their little world and say well if you put some police post it will add a faster response. A police station is not a response to a distress call. A police station is a logistic facility to have persons go out. So when you have a police post set up 2km from a police station, that's the height of stupidity. There's nothing that the police post will do that is going to cause higher visibility. It is cosmetic. And we have chamber people. So clueless, yes, it's a good plan. Or people who are just blind loyalists to the unc. And if they show us on the other foot they would. Because Keith Rowley did the same nonsense. If you recall when he said Gary Griffith shut down the branches station. I didn't shut it down. But he was so clueless. He's a typical old dinosaur politician that every street corner he want to set up a police station and cut a Ribbon because you know you have clueless citizens who believe they are that is going to reduce crime. Blanchard Station, brother, is that there was one person came to make a report in our Blanchard station station in three months. 1. So what I did is refurbish it to have the joint army patrol stay there whilst also giving a report. What happens now? In developed countries, people don't go to a station to make report. There's 999, there's online reporting and people come to your home. It's a delivery service. You're not supposed to go to a station. That's one, two. This thing about people trying to find a telephone number to call a station if there's your house broken into. No, you do not call a station to respond to a distress call. So the police post provides no avenue whatsoever to assist. Unless of course, the police post is in some way that is so far away from a station it will cause the police vehicles to have an operational command center to be able to move. But you have the mobile vehicles and with the mobile vehicles you have, you can respond to most distress calls in less than five minutes, which is what we did in 2018-2021, truly emergency response patrol. We had 10 vehicles in television, strategically placed GPS tracking on the vehicle. And with that you were getting a less than 5 minute response to distress calls. Putting a police post means more police officers now have to manipulate. So this is in total contrast to what Dwayne Gibbs and myself that we were doing. We were putting more police officers onto the ground. Less stations means more police officers onto the ground. Putting a police post is not going to reduce crime. For God's sake, people, the other man got his head blown off at residence nightclub, which was just 50 meters from the commissioner's residence and it took 45 minutes for the police to respond. So the nonsense to believe that setting up a police post is going to reduce crime. People are robbed and killed outside police stations. You've seen it in St. James and other places. So get off your high horse with your stupidity. What is required to reduce crime is a high visibility, a rapid response, a deterrent. That that is where you get police officers out on the ground. That is why under the same Kamala Prasad In 2014, we had the Community Comfort Patrol, we had the rapid response unit. So you had the vehicle. So as soon as someone calls 999, you look at the dashboard, you look at the screen, you see the vehicle in closest proximity to that distress call and BAM, vehicle number 13, 17 and 19 respond to so and so that is what is required, not a police post. The more police posts you have, less police officers could do patrols. Additionally, the same commissioner and others who voice a concern of criminal elements targeting law enforcement, you're saying that, but now you're setting up a container that somebody can riddle. A police station is something that secures the police officers. So they use that as their logistic, their administrative layout to do transfer, to do handicap keys from one to the other. You're secured, you're going to put a container that had the same criminal record riddle. You're putting the police officers in danger. It is a full foolish concept. It has no tactical approach. It is going to. There's going to be. And to hear, Minister, every time I think that Roger Alexander can make a more foolish statement to state when they ask the question, can you put a price on saving lives? Well, okay, well, let's buy 10 aircraft carriers for the Coast Guard. Let's buy 50 fighter jets for the Air Guard. Let's give every police officer a Versace watch or a Louis Vuitton bulletproof vest. How stupid can you be? There must be something called cost benefit analysis. You have to use economy of effort. You have to utilize your national security resources in an effective and efficient manner. When you have minister of Security stating you can't put a price on securing a country that is an avenue for corruption. When it is, you go down that road, you must be checking, as I said to people who say it is a value, show me anywhere. By setting up more police forces is going to reduce crime. New York City has 8 million citizens and less police stations to secure than Trinidad and tobago. That has 1.4 million. Because of all the backward politicians that we have had for decades that want to set up a police station at every single street corner every time there's a crime. [00:08:39] Speaker B: One of the things I realized, Gary, is the fact that when you look, you made a very salient point on the issue of if I put on a police post here, I had to put manpower to secure because there would be weapons. There would be things in that police post that we had to secure. So is getting persons outside. Now you make a very. You make a point when you said having somebody close in the area to respond to a distress call is because you have persons out on patrol. Do we have enough vehicles to be roving the streets or roaming the streets to perform statics in different locations? Do we have that manpower? Do we have the resources to do what you are saying that needs to be done? [00:09:15] Speaker A: We did. I was actually Commended by the Police Service Commission that 95% of 999 calls you had a less than five minute response response. Because we have 1700 police vehicles. 1700. And all that I asked for was 100. I see. I took 110 vehicles in each one of the 10 divisions. So picture of people living in the west. So the western division we have 10 vehicles 24 hours a day. Three patrolling up and down in Digo, three patrolling up and down in Pitti Valley, three patrolling up and down in Cocoreate, three patrolling up and down in Karanage. Sorry. One in Cookery and three in Garadas. Three p. Valley. Three Diego Martin. You know, that meant that anytime there was a distress call, they looked at the screen and we could see the 10 vehicles laid out in that western peninsula. So when it is one vehicle is in Diamondville, one in four roads, one in, one in. In Crystal Stream, it meant that you could look at the vehicle in closest proximity and you were getting a less than five minute response. That is what was required. And because of that, public trust and confidence in the police went up to 15 minutes. It put an end to kidnapping, it puts an end to home invasion, it put an end to extortion. Remember those things all stopped because of that emergency response patrol. And I said the reason being is that having that you have GPS tracking on each police vehicle. All this I spoke about have been shut down. The emergency response patrol, the rapid response unit, the community comfort Patrol. GPS tracking on vehicles, them sitting in the area of responsibility. An effective 999 system, an operational command center, a commissioner's command center. That is what is required. Not setting up a police post and dropping it in the ground and say that going to reduce crime. That is the height of stupidity. [00:10:53] Speaker B: All right, but wouldn't a police post, a mobile post set up in various areas, wouldn't that serve as a deterrent in the sense that hey, a police station not too far from. We now let police post up there, meaning it will have officers. Gary, we have never had a situation where and thankfully so we could knock on wood if you want believes in that. We have never had a situation where persons, criminals have brass face, bold face and. And brazenly attacked police stations. [00:11:19] Speaker A: That is not true. That is not true. The riddle Besso street police station. People have been. People have been killed outside St. James Police Station. [00:11:28] Speaker B: I apologize. I remember that Bessel street incident. I apologize. I apologize. [00:11:33] Speaker A: And we have had many break ins, robberies, murders outside police stations. Outside police stations. So anybody who is foolish to think setting up Police forces. [00:11:43] Speaker C: Good. [00:11:44] Speaker A: Listen, a man will just could shoot somebody right outside a police station and drive past. By the time the police officer gets out of that station, gets his key, jump in, jump, kick the starter and drive out, that person could be at least two miles away and you can't find him. So the police bent, sitting down in a station, twirling their thumbs, waiting to respond could never be a deterrent. The criminals are highly trained. They know that if you sit down in a. A station cannot. People, you watch Chicago pd, you watch, you watch, you watch svu. When it is you have a response. You don't have people in the station and jumping off the station and running out. They are in a vehicle and it's the vehicle that respond. So that is what is the response. The response is not a station, the response is a vehicle. So. So to say that having a station will cause them to respond faster. That person who wrote that has absolutely no clue about law enforcement. But what happens in this country. Everybody is a law enforcement expert, but you just need to look at international best practice. Nypd, Chicago, Detroit, London Met. I've done it all. I've been at all. They are laughing at us. Two previous commissioners in, one in New York, one in Chicago and one in London Met have contacted me. They cannot believe Trinidad is so backward. You're setting up a police post 2 km from a police station that makes no. How could that be a deterrent? But you know what it is. Politicians know the game. The more police posts you set up, the more dotage people have in this country say, oh, this looking good, but this will help me. That could not help you. And I'm not saying this, I have done a lot to try to support this government and make sure they make the right ideas and the right operational plan. Sorry, but you have two junior middle management people who do not understand 21st century policing, predictive policing, intelligence driven policing. So they don't know what to do. So the only thing other than a state of emergency lies set up a police post. Where in God's name have you ever seen a developed country police posts being set up? The more police posts means more people have to man the police post and less of them out on the ground. If you find that area should have had, should have better presence with any vehicle is what is required. There are places in New York where you have a police vehicle permanently stationed. The vehicle is stationed there permanently for the person to know that I'm in that vehicle and if you do something, I'm going to kick down and Go after you. That is a deterrent. You could go to Walmart and stuff and you will see police vehicles parked outside Walmart. It's typical deterrence. Sometimes the person is not in the vehicle, but they just have to jump in the vehicle and go on a post. Could never and has never proven to be a deterrent to reduce crime. [00:14:14] Speaker B: One person was asking a question respectfully that and trying to figure out how to tailor the question. Because of the response time that you talked about, the murder rates didn't decline. The murder rate still was well in the 5002 even during your tenure. [00:14:27] Speaker A: That is not true. That's a lie. From August 2020, I was waiting on it. August 2020 to August 2021, there are 343 murders. It was the highest reduction, the lowest number of murders us in any given year, in 15 years. So who said you're a liar? You have to take out your political blinkers and deal with the facts. And I was able to do that without a state of emergency. That gave me the opportunity to lock up everybody who I feel might commit crime. In fact, during COVID crime went up in Jamaica, it went up in Guyana, it went up in New York, Detroit, Boston, Louisiana, Chicago, every city in the United States. And I was able to reduce crime. So get off your high horse without stupidness. What we did was pump high visibility, a rapid response and heavy deterrent. And that is why it was the lowest number of murders in any given year. [00:15:11] Speaker B: When we look at the statistics now in terms of the response time in which people are now rushing and flocking to the TTPS on this recruitment drive, we're seeing well just above 10,000 applicants going through. All right, let's say for three quarter of them get through, which could take us, let's say 8,000 of them, add to the complement of 8,000 plus officers, that's well over 16,000. Do you think that this individual, this plethora of individuals coming into the police service will assist with the crime fighting initiatives in Trinidad and Tobago? Do you think one of the answers, outside of their putting down more police polls, do you think one of the answers is to bring in more officers? [00:15:51] Speaker A: Well, again, that is based on lack of intellectual ability by those persons in authority. Remember, if you have a company, let's say you're trying to build a house and you have 10 workers and you're not using the 10 workers properly, you will tell the employer, I need 100 workers to help build your house because you don't have the capability to lead. Trinidad and Tobago has the Highest number of police officers in relation to population density in most countries in the world. And now you're asking for extra 3,000. But just to clarify your point there, it's not that they're going to hire 8,000 police officers. The establishment is 7,500. They want to take it to 10,000. So they want to increase like 2500 police officers. So you can't go more than 10,000. The point being is that the UK actually came here with an ex, with a team and they said we have too many police officers. And because of. Yeah, too many. And I agreed. Remember, remember when I was commissioner, every single player turned was a police vehicle, was a, what was a patrol. People started seeing, getting upset with me and St. James on a Friday night. They couldn't get drunk because every two minutes of police vehicle and blue lights was passing. Because you were able to utilize your human resource in an effective manner. We had too many police. I realized we had hundreds of police officers doing nothing because there were units that were totally irrelevant. I shut down, I removed units, brought in new units and utilized. So we transformed the whole format of the police service. We had colonial type of units that made no sense in this modern era of technology. Most of the things that a police officer would have been doing on a desk, it could by five and six can be done by one, so to speak, to feel like we need more police officers. So how come it is that just a few years ago, everywhere you turn you got a few moments later you were able to see police officers immediately in a carnival effect in a major event. Every single time there was a traffic congestion, police officers were on the side. When last have you seen a police officer in traffic congestion? The only time you see police officers on the road now is to lock you up to check for drivers permit and tint. Every time there was a traffic light stopped, there was an accident. We had an operational command center and sent police officers to clear the traffic. All of that has stopped. So let us not fool ourselves into believing we are short of police officers. The UK said we have too many. And I was able to show that. So what it is, we do not need to increase quantity, we need to enhance quality. [00:18:08] Speaker B: With this government apparently doing their very best to put more visibility on the ground. What are you saying? And I mean your cohorts, you know, outside of this country are looking at something as archaic and dinosaur. How do we get the mindset of citizens to understand your thought process? The fact that we need to move into 21st century policing and not just Having a police post because I'm getting messages where people are saying I feel a little safer because I seen a police post at Etihad. I've seen a police post in Taruba where it didn't have one before. How do we get persons mindset to understand that the post itself cannot assist you if you have a distress in your house. How do we get persons to understand this concept? [00:18:58] Speaker A: Most of them have never gone, as I said, they've never gone further north of Shakasha Carry. They've never traveled. You don't see a police person in Miami or New York or Toronto or London. But they're backward. It's a backward system in a backward country that believes we set up a police post, I'll be safer now. No, that's dotishness. There's not. It makes you feel safe. Making you feel safe cannot make you safe. But you. But if it's so backward to believe that, well then let's set up. You know what, we should set up 2,000 police posts in every street corner. You like that? That is if you want to be totally stupid. When will the level of stupidity end for you to realize a police post post cannot be a deterrent. [00:19:33] Speaker C: All right. [00:19:33] Speaker A: What is a deterrent is the vehicles that can cause the response. [00:19:36] Speaker B: All right, so let's take a call respectively on your question or your comment please. [00:19:41] Speaker C: Yeah, David, good, good talk with the commission, ex commissioners. But if you use technology in a police post voice like drones and CC cameras and things like that, what do you think about that? [00:19:55] Speaker B: All right, so the text the caller is asking about, you heard it, CCTV cameras, drones from the police. [00:20:00] Speaker A: Point being is that could be done from the police station that is 2 km from the post. You don't need it. You all have seen Blue Bloods, you've seen nypd, One police plaza, one building holding everything, not setting up satellite. Let me tell you, police government love to set up police stations because that is where a $10 million station will now cost 40 million and the contractor will give you 20 million in the campaign. You can get his payback time. That has always been the big avenue. Police stations, fire stations. But as I said, you have a country with more police stations to secure 1.5 than New York that has less police stations to secure 8 million. Understand, understand how clueless we are sounding with this. But then you have people in chambers and stuff. Oh, this is good. It's going to make me feel safe. It is going to cost your life. And what makes it worse, you are affecting the security of the police officers. Unless you intend to bulletproof the container, which you're not. [00:20:51] Speaker C: So. [00:20:51] Speaker A: Yeah. So the same commissioner who is concerned about threats to national security and targeted police officers, you're putting them in a container that a 9 millimeter could go through. Come the man. Common sense is not common. [00:21:03] Speaker B: You know, I have to agree with you on one of the issues in the especially in the metropolitan area of New York, which I have traveled many times. The subway, every street corner or so every other street corner, you find officers in pairs. You can't go down any subway and Nazi in one train station. At least two office, two pairs of officers. The bigger the station, the more you see. And they're just there. They're just there. [00:21:25] Speaker A: And do you see the stations? They didn't strategically put a station for you to say I'm feeling safe now because I see in a station that is New York actually didn't put stations to make you feel safe because he stationed there. That is dotish, thinking backward Trinidadian thing. [00:21:39] Speaker B: All right. Hello, good morning. Respectfully and quickly, please. Good morning. [00:21:42] Speaker C: Yeah, I'll make it very quick. Gary, this is not New York or Chicago or Detroit. This is Trinidad. We're not a first time country and you failed at capturing the big fish. Let me talk about the big fish. [00:21:53] Speaker B: I wouldn't say Gary. [00:21:54] Speaker A: So who is the big fish? [00:21:56] Speaker B: The club? No, no, no, Gary, we're not doing that. No, Gary, Gary, we can't sell the big fish. [00:22:03] Speaker A: Did Roger Alexander catch. All right, was the national security. [00:22:07] Speaker B: All right, let's calm down. Let's calm down. Let's calm down. We're not going to. [00:22:10] Speaker A: You bring people who are illiterates. The talk where you catch a big fish. [00:22:15] Speaker C: Oh, God. [00:22:16] Speaker B: I feel, I feel your sentiment, but we don't want to. You know, I do apologize. [00:22:23] Speaker A: You ain't catchy big fish. [00:22:24] Speaker B: Oh, God. Morning. [00:22:27] Speaker C: Every morning. Gary. Morning. My, my contribution with this is right, Gary, the police have enough information. But I tell you enough. Enough information on who and who does need to be kicked down. So this soe the police not being effective. Right. They have enough information. Have a nice day. [00:22:54] Speaker B: All right. We want to remind callers. And you too, Gary. You know, we're trying to be respectful with everybody here. We want to be respectful. I agree. Let's be respectful of captain Gary Griffith. And you know, we asked Gary bring intellectual. Well, Gary, this is callers. We, we, we invite the callers. If we, if we can't get control, if you can't make a proper contribution, I would advise you not to call. It's that simple. We're looking for a solution. [00:23:26] Speaker A: If you swing at me, well, Gary, we swinging back. [00:23:28] Speaker B: Gary. We're not swinging back. Gary. [00:23:29] Speaker A: No, no, not you. No, not you. I know this Gary Griffin was the highest reduction in violent crime in 31 years. It was the highest public trust and confidence of the police service. 80%. So when people talk to stripping us, it's the same Kamala Poussad recessor that said I was the best commissioner of police the country ever had. So you're blind. No. [00:23:47] Speaker B: All right. Okay. Okay, Gary. Gary. [00:23:48] Speaker A: Oh, I want to put them in the place. [00:23:50] Speaker B: Okay, Gary. [00:23:51] Speaker A: But we could do it easier. [00:23:52] Speaker C: Gary. [00:23:53] Speaker A: But you come. We had a big fish. [00:23:54] Speaker B: All right. Okay, Gary. We could do it a little different. You know, one of the things I remember fondly with you and last evening when I got the rundown and I knew he was going to be on the show this morning, I smiled and I was saying to some, I say, yeah, I'm going to speak to cap, to Captain Griffith this morning. And, you know, it's somebody I look forward to. I remember the a few moments later, and I have to ask you, how was that possible where somebody would carry on with something? Gary, we outside, we on the beach, so. And so we outside, and next thing you know, a few moments later, we see in that, Gary Griffith, we want to apologize to you. [00:24:29] Speaker A: That technology, in contrast to the where catchy, catchy, big fish. That technology was what put an end to kidnapping. There were 12 consecutive kidnappings from Natalie Paulina and others. So the same caller who spoke about kicking down the doors, we were able to utilize technology, pinpoint the kidnappers, kick down the door, rescue the victim and arrest the kidnapper. That never happened again. Since then, we have gone to the kidnapper, getting the ransom paid, and then saying we solved the crime. That put an end to kidnapping. It put an end to home invasion because as soon as you jump over the wall, you call 999. We had an operational command center, commissioner's command center, area of responsibility in vehicles, GPS tracking on vehicles, rapid response unit, special operational response team. All that was shut down and have not been reignited by Guevara and Alexander. That worked. And Alexander was there to know that it worked. But he can't do it because there's a degree of inferiority complex based on what I would have achieved. And that put an end to that. It put an end to extortion by putting undercover officers. You come to the person's business to ask for money. The person who's A cleaner in the store was actually an undercover officer. Bob, we take your wicket. That is what we did. We used technology, we use systems, we use tactics. And it is not being used. And so that is what. That is what was able to cause. A few moments later. [00:25:42] Speaker B: Let me ask. Okay, and I like that. Let me ask you this question. One person is saying to me, why does he keep referring to New York and the United States? It's not perfect here. This is a US Citizen. It's not perfect here. We do have crime, we have corruption. Just. Just as any other country. The American United States is not perfect. Now, he says he keep using it as an analogy. And I think I just chime in. It's not that they are perfect or Gary is saying that it's voided of corruption. It's just the presence and the technology used by law enforcement in those areas that serves better as opposed to the police post, according to what Gary is saying. [00:26:14] Speaker A: No, it is. Besides that, New York city in the mid-90s, they were known as police officers, were known as pigs. They were seen as the most corrupt. By transforming the NYPD utilizing systems of better management, better leadership, accountability management and measurement of performance, it transformed what was seen as the most corrupt police service to be known as America's finest. It became one of the safest cities in the United States. And looking at the system of the New York model, it is a system that was used in many other police departments throughout the United States and North America and even in Europe. So I could speak about the London Met, I could speak about NYPD, Chicago, Boston, Detroit, LA. I've worked with all of them. The people who are callers have never gone further than Chakasha Carri. So they don't know. [00:26:57] Speaker B: So let me ask you this point [00:26:58] Speaker A: being, is that that system? So I say, well, New York is New Yorkshire, and that is different. Crime is not a culture. If you put the property deterrence, the systems and the technology. Let me explain the criminological theory of crime. Crime is a product of opportunity. The greater the deterrent, the. The greater, the less likelihood persons would commit crime. So what you do is you look at international best practice and you mobilize it here. You don't say, well, I set up a police post because Trinidad is Trinidad and New York is New York. Oh, God, man. [00:27:24] Speaker B: All right, so let me ask you the importance of. Now you mentioned something and this is my final thought. I will give time for one more call or two more calls, just momentarily. Let's let Gary respond to this. You Talked about GPS tracking. I was always of the opinion that one police officer or a police car could leave Diego Martin Diamondville and drive all the way to Mayaro and put on and do police work and all them kind of thing. I thought, so you came on board and you decided to zone these things, you know. And I remember working at TSDT and vehicles that are located for specific areas of operation and work had to stay in those areas. I remember me, I was working in the Chagonas area and I. We didn't have much work this particular day, so I took the. I was. I was in charge of a vehicle. So I drove all the way home. Senior saw the vehicle, saw the number plate, realized this bucket truck or whatever is supposed to be operating in the Chagonas area, what is it doing in the Dabadi area? And a call made. And then they realized, okay, he was given permission to go with it. Why is it important to keep police officers and police vehicles within zones that they do not cross over into a different jurisdiction? Why, why that importance if it's the same police work with the same achievable results desired? [00:28:39] Speaker A: Excellent, excellent point. If I ever become commissioner, I'm making him a dcp because that is an excellent example to show why it is you need to have persons stay in the area of responsibility. A perfect example is that socafet in that SOCA fet they had recently in the Western peninsula, they had more police vehicles overtaking the traffic than persons going to defense. You know why? We have hundreds of police vehicles moonlighting, using the police vehicle to patrol and escort other vehicles. Where you charge persons $500 a vehicle. So four vehicles follow me, put on the siren and we'll overtake. It also was an avenue that by locking them in. If I'm a criminal element in say mover station and now I have to transport drugs to Diego Martin. I have to. I can't use my vehicle to throw a siren to stop myself from being blocked off. So I remember when I was commissioner, I would actually be. I still lead most operations. I lead from the front and police vehicles will be coming out of carnival fence and I'll stop, where are you? I'll move on. What you're doing here. They were involved in actually transporting gang members, being involved in PR in private job work as escorting persons. They use the vehicles to transport illegal weapons and so forth. Now these are very small, small number, by the way. I don't want people to feel as though there's a norm for the police service. But by locking them in and staying in their area of responsibility. It prevented police, the rogue police officers from using police vehicles. Because if you're involved in criminal activity, it's hard for you to. If you're stationed in Western and you have to stay in Western, sometimes you need to take the vehicle to transport the gang leader which is siren on to have the vehicle following you so that no other police vehicle will stop him because you have drugs or weapons. And you have to leave Western tomorrow, move to say San Fernando or whatever. That is the importance. So how we did it was very simple. We had an operational command center. We put GPS on every police vehicle. So anytime we see a vehicle from the Western division going and move up. Hey brother man, what you doing here? Get your tail back where you belong. They could make a note we had locked them down. If you see police vehicles park up in somebody else in St. James Egg, brother, you could leave it by your girlfriend for the last two hours they're supposed to be on patrol. That is policing. What it did there was one where two brand new vehicles were going over 80 miles an hour on the main road in Chaguanas. And they got off each other and we saw the speed and they were racing to get back to the station. It's not that they were racing to go to a distress call. That was the value of it. When it is on a Friday afternoon, 4pm you see a police vehicle going 70 miles an hour. We know that you put on your blue light and your siren, brother, you're not on a distress call. Why you're frustrating the other part the citizens for turn off your blue light and siren. You're not going to a distress call. So you're using your vehicle in the wrong manner. That is the importance of it. Guevara and Roger Alexander refused to implement the EOR area of responsibility, refused to reignite the Community Comfort Patrol, the rapid response unit, the emergency response Patrol, the GPS tracking on the vehicle, the operational command center, the commissioner's command center to be able to make sure police officers don't abuse use their authority. They utilize the vehicles properly. They stay in their area of responsibility and it mandates them to respond to a distress call in less than five minutes. [00:31:51] Speaker B: Let's take one phone call and you have about 30 seconds to make your point to ask your question. Good morning. [00:31:56] Speaker C: Good morning gentlemen. My question is. Well, I already see the police those so called supposed to be mobile. I believe something is Melania. It looks like it's containers. Does that look like money for an X man pocket. But Mr. Griffith, if I have 10,000 police. 41 constituency. Is that simple solution, you know. And I simply had to put 500 police in each constituency and my problem solved. Then I could almost put it at every single corner police. [00:32:25] Speaker B: There's a DCP number two, but. [00:32:27] Speaker A: Yeah, but. But again, if you recall, the only time that we had an incident free carnival when I was commissioner, we did that. You might like it. But let's go back to Brooklyn Labor Day Carnival. What I put is two police officers at every single corner. So anytime you make, you could make a note throughout the whole place. It was the first time there was enough pickpockets on the barber green. But that changed. They started getting shootings, woundings, stabbings, killings. And then they both saw it was a safe carnival. This is how you utilize it. And let me just quickly add before we leave to the people who are the UNC supporters who have a problem. What I said, what I say, I speak it as how it is because I'm an independent person. I'm not like others. Like, you know, they have Dr. Shane Morvin and others every Ana Ramdass, everything. You support the UNC. I mean, there are people who do the same about the PNM that cannot help the country. I saw the value of that ID card and I get in relics from PNM people for it. But quick, quick. [00:33:18] Speaker B: I mean, I know we had a wrap. I would have tried to hold you in the next hour a little bit. I don't know how busy you are this morning, but I want to touch on that ID card issue as well. Making it mandatory for citizens 18, 16. Yeah, yeah. Is it. Is there a value to making it mandatory law that if you're stopped, you don't have a form, People thinking it's ID card. It could be a driver's license, it could be a passport, a form of identification on you. You know, I will t fear I don't want to use the word Tiffany. Where were the police listening? I'll borrow you. Just give me about 10 minutes into the next hour and we will revisit those conversations. So stay with me, Gary. And where we left off was, was Gary's response to some of your calls and your suggestions and questions. We ask that we both maintain some level of decorum and respect for each other. Please don't attack the captain, as I would not engage or encourage your captain to attack you. All right, so let's take this call before we get to Gary. Hello. Good morning. [00:34:14] Speaker C: Morning to Davy. Listen, you know, I'm amazed sitting here and listening To Gary Griffith talk about the items of corruption within the police service, that he knew that these things existed. And I want to ask him this pointed question. What measures are being put into place to weed out these corrupt officers, the one who transporting drugs, transporting gang leaders, doing all kind of craziness in the service and endangering the good police officers in the police service? I listen to your comments. [00:34:44] Speaker A: All right, yeah, very good question, Very professional. So when there's a difference between romshop talk, information, intelligence and evidence. So when you hear the big fish, that is rum shot talk because you're still trying to find the big fish. And just for information, Marlene McDonald, you couldn't get a bigger big fish. She was charged under me as commissioner of police and other very senior officers as well. So in the situation with the police now, even if we have intelligence or police officers involved in running drug blocks and so forth, we don't have the capability to charge them. So what I did was, was for example, reassign them. So you're running a drug block in St. James. I send you to do an admin work now in Toko until get you away from the system and once keep monitoring you. Because I can't say that because I don't have evidence, keep you there. So what I did is I made life miserable for them. If I knew police were using vehicles to escort gang members to be used as a private job to transport persons from FETs and so forth. You use the GPS to keep them in the area of responsibility so they can't do it. So I kept finding mechanisms to prevent it. As soon as I left, every single police officer that was transferred went back to this, to the location, all the GPS and the police vehicles, the monitor was removed. So you know that there's this high command persons who wanted that type of thing. So they put them right back. I moved one from Four Roads. She was running drug blocks in Four Roads in Aunt St. James. I put her down to Blanche, she shares. She started drying the same Blanche she shares. As soon as I move, they put a ride back. That is what happens. The unfortunate thing, likewise, for example the southwestern peninsula. We knew that there were police officers and units involved in allowing illegal drugs, weapons, human trafficking from the southwestern peninsula. You can't lock them up. But what I did polygraph testing everybody, simple polygraph testing. Do you financially benefit from illegal weapons, drugs and human trafficking? There was one station, 11 out of the 13 of them didn't want to take that polygraph test. I transferred all of them and we had meetings I said, listen, I can't discipline you, I can't suspend you, but I will transfer you. I have the right to do so. Go and report to your union about it. So those are the types of things you could do. Polygraph testing, drug testing, transferring the officers, sting operations, keeping them that they can't utilize the police vehicle to go outside of the area of responsibility. Those are the little things that could be done and it helped, it played a big part towards reducing because many of those officers were doing the wrong things. When they realized it's difficult for them and they could get caught, they backed off and they started becoming decent police officers. When I left, they went back to [00:37:15] Speaker B: do the old type policing because I didn't want nobody to come and say, but Gary, if you knew that this WPC or this pco, this superintendent running a block, could you not have done, charged the person, but then having intelligence without evidence. [00:37:34] Speaker A: Correct. [00:37:35] Speaker B: I suspect you're doing something. I never catch you, but I'm hearing talks. So you know what? Let me, let me dispel those rumors about you and put you somewhere else. You go shine up yourself. If I put you there and you still find yourself back in Diego Martin, it's more than. [00:37:51] Speaker A: It was more than talks because remember, with the SSC and the commissioner, we have access to intercept. So we get in the intercept. You're hearing it, but you know they're talking to the gang leader in code. So you know it, but it's not enough evidence. So you know, you know, you're sure that they're involved, but. But surety can be used in court. So that is because. Because you need the hardcore evidence so that, that is where the problem took place. So what I did, I made it difficult for them. And then what they did, they said they see this man, we had to get rid of this man, let go and form something and say firearms, give it to a gullible prime minister and see that firearm corruption and cause him to foolishly do what he did that caused them to get back in the driving business. There was a system of $100 million Paramount overtime corruption. 250 officers claimed they were working 24 hours a day, 30 days a month. So instead of getting $12,000 a month, you were getting $80,000 in taxpayers money. Over $100 million. I put an end to that as soon as I left. No, Roger Alexander and Rivera asking for more money apart from the 100 million overtime corruption that has returned. Now they're asking for more overtime. [00:38:54] Speaker B: All right, let me take this call quickly. All right, so before I take the next call, the ID issue, the id this legislation proposed by this administration to make it law, is that going to benefit the citizenry? If yes, how? And if you. If you disagree with it, why? [00:39:13] Speaker A: Yeah. And that is where when I make decisions, I do it based on what is good for the country, not blind political loyalty. I tell you, some people matters. If TKRwind, as I said, TKR wins CPL, they will praise the UNC or praise the PNM. You have to look at it from facts. I am looking at it from this ID card. I am seeing the value in that. There have been many occasions police officers will be in a roadblock and a man is a hardened criminal. He's somebody who's wanted, there's a warrant, he's an illegal immigrant. The police do not know because you don't have your ID card and the police now cannot call you because they don't have an ID card. They let you go and then they find out after this person was involved in some activity. There are also situations where there could be a crime scene, several persons are around. You don't want us to secure the persons and take away their rights, but you don't have an ID card to at least say, look, let's have this number of this person so in case we realize, hey, you see where this person was, he'll have some more information to assist us. Or you could be a person of interest. We don't know who he or she is. So the ID card can be of extreme value. Let me also add, as Minister of National Security, we discovered there were over 110,000 illegal immigrants in this country. 100. That's almost like 1/7 of the adult population. And it meant that we cannot deal with them because we do not know where they are. If it is that you have an ID card, we realize those persons who are here illegally are not contributing to the state by not paying taxes and so forth should be itech. They should be removed or be given the opportunity to be regularized so that they would not be paying taxes, they will not be part of human trafficking and so forth. All of that is the value of the ID card. I think what people have concerned with is because they believe this government is being draconian and if you don't have the ID card, they will lock you up. That is where I hope it is some degree of flexibility. You drop your ID card, you're at maracas. What worked on my ID card for? I don't want to lucid up with any water. I took a taxi. You just ask the person, well, can you come to the station or can you give me a call and show me a picture? So it should not be, you don't have a car, we're gonna lock you up. But the card is something that can be of immense value. So when people feel like Gary, anti unc. I am supporting the government in this, but I am supporting. [00:41:17] Speaker B: Yeah, I don't mean to cut you, but much more than that. As you mentioned, you're going to Maracas beach debate. You didn't walk with your car keys. The thing about it is this, we have a system in place with the, the MeritPoint system where this, this e ticketing system is happening where officers can just go on a device, pull up your driver credential and see if you're active, suspended, or has been totally disbarred from having obtaining a driver's permit, a driver's license, one. They can see if you were issued a warning for particular traffic infraction. That warning is there. How about you may not have identification on you, but you're able to provide a name. My name is David Brown. With your name and your date and your date of birth on that system, they're supposed to be able to pull it up. If you can't physically show them an ID card or an ID and see whether you were registered with the Elections and Boundaries Commission and whether your picture on that system matches who they are looking at. You know, that type of technology, I mean, we'd like it to physically harness, let us see some form of identification. But once you go to the Election and boundaries Commission and you've been issued an ID card with a, an interface such as one that they're using for the demerit system, the officer pull it up, you see your name is Gary Griffith. Okay, you know, your birthday, birthday. We pull it up, bam. And we see you. [00:42:28] Speaker A: That is why I'm telling you, I'll go back there, I'm putting you as my dcp that you hit the nail on the head. Because what the system I was getting also was to put apart from the rapid response unit, we had an emergency response patrol. We were going to put the laptops on all the police vehicles and do just that. So there's a date. The database we were going to put was so sophisticated. You have the name of the person and their ID card. We can now know before you go into that home and there's a 999 call and you look at the home and you put the address we know Mr. John Smith has been involved in three reports of domestic violence. He has a firearm. Police officers go into homes, they don't even know if the man has a firearm that could be a threat to them. This person has two reports of criminal activity which are sold for grievous bodily harm. So the officers know I can't go by myself. I need to call for backup. Let me hold five minutes. That is the type of sophistication I was putting in and it all collapsed after I left that police officers need that. So you just type it. You just type it in. You know this person has a weapon. You know this person has outstanding warrants. You know this person in PS maintenance. You know this person is involved in three DUIs before. That is the type of. And it's not difficult because that goes right back to the national operations center that I established as minister. Minister that was recommended by the commission of inquiry into the coup that was going to be that engine room $500 million I paid for that technology. Taxpayers money. Roger Alexander stood out in a dispatch system to set off police vehicles when we already have the 999. [00:43:55] Speaker B: Because I think the government is looking at AI data centers in the country. They're looking at setting up the first AI data center. I mean with that type of technology, I mean why just have AI data center where when we still go into an archaic dinosaur approach of having to pull up in a big diary. I remember walking into license office at time misplaced my permit and they give me some big books. They asked me what year I think I get my license. And I had to go through this big book and I flipping pages, I eventually found my credentials in the book handwritten. You know, we even had persons who receiving certified copies where they had a problem now when they went electric electronic with this. This database infrastructure interface with where they go to get their cars inspected. But one letter looking like a. I mean it's supposed to be a one and they can't figure it out. So the certified copy and matching that would have seen on the car but there is no proof of tampering with that number. So then how is this so. And you can inspect it's. It has been horrendous. Good morning caller. Respectfully. 30 seconds please. [00:44:54] Speaker C: I am always respectful. [00:44:55] Speaker B: 30 seconds. [00:44:56] Speaker C: That has to do with human error with numbers. But you know something, this thing about I must walk with my ID card I'm not agreeing with that because once I give my name the same system Mr. Griffith is talking about. If you look at the Same things you're talking about in the US There are people. I'm a passenger in a car, the police. Pull over the driver. [00:45:18] Speaker B: Bataria, stop. You're merely repeating what we just suggested and we just discussed. You may repeat it. I want you to ask a question or make a suggestion. [00:45:26] Speaker C: Clearly. I want to clarify. I'm not muted. Me. Don't make it legal that I have to have my. A form of identification for me. No. Once I tell you my name, you. It is your duty that your system. If I give my correct name, that your system is supposed to have my name on your database. Don't hold me responsible for walking with my ID card. I want to charge me for not working with a form of identification. [00:45:51] Speaker B: All right, no problem. [00:45:53] Speaker C: Okay. [00:45:54] Speaker B: And that takes me down this alley. We make it mandatory that citizens do their due diligence and make life easy for yourself. Get to the ebc. Fix the system within the ebc. Because you're going to apply for ID card now. You're waiting four months, three months to get it. Make that system so robust in responding to citizenry because you're rolling out something here and you want to pull legislation which you don't need for it. So get to the ebc, register yourself. Get yourself there, get your card. We have that data. It's supposed to be updated every 10 years. We have that. We're looking at you. I mean, Gary, we really backward, you know. Let me take this next call. [00:46:28] Speaker C: Quick. Go ahead. [00:46:29] Speaker B: All right, go ahead, Gary. Make a point. [00:46:31] Speaker A: No, no, no. [00:46:35] Speaker B: All right, where is it? Good morning. Where's the. Hello. [00:46:39] Speaker C: Good morning, Gary. Good morning. Red herring and them and yellow herring. However, by the end of the day, he was the world's greatest commissioner police. With this new technology disciplining the police service with consistency at all times. You need a salute. Gary. I salute you this morning. Have a good one. [00:46:59] Speaker B: All right. Thank you very much for your comments this morning. So, Gary, your. Your consensus is one where you do not disagree with legislation for the ID card issue with public being in public space. What? You know, just. I want a man in the taxi to understand what you're saying because again, [00:47:17] Speaker A: because half of the country hates the government. Their first thing is that the government want to use this as an avenue to lock you up. It shouldn't be that case. [00:47:24] Speaker B: I know. [00:47:24] Speaker A: I have been a commissioner of police. I've been a soldier. It is very difficult when you have five people in a car and the only person who has ID is the driver and the other four persons you do not know who they are. They might very well. Why you are in a roadblock. You find four persons. You don't know who they are, so you can't hold them. And but the ID card you don't realize this man have. You have true outstanding maintenance. Your Philip Alexander nothing. You didn't pay child support. You have outstanding warrant for something. You have a weapon charge. That is what the police officers must know. And they cannot know that. And then these persons who they could steal a roadblock can now drive off and escape and slap and say, yeah, the this was stupid. I have my ID card right here. So there's value to this and I support the police. But it should be that people believe that it can and would be an avenue to lock you up because you don't have your id. Even if we did, the system that I was getting because I was acquiring I think it was about 500 laptops to put any 500 vehicles. You type any person's name and sometimes you might know your ID card off your bat. Your BIR number. You type it in, they will know everything. [00:48:30] Speaker C: Bam. [00:48:30] Speaker A: Picture record, criminal records, certificate of character. You know everything about the individual. And as I said, that database system I was putting in that national operations center through the operational command center would assist in saving the lives of police officers. You get a 999 call. You go into a house. You do not know what is in the house. You do not. This man is a gang leader. This man is a drug dealer. This man has three acts of domestic violence. This man is on dui. This man has a firearm. So you need to know before you get into a home what you're getting into. That is what the importance of that database system you're speaking about. But that was being done through the development of the $500 million National Operations center that Roger Alexander turned into a dispatch system on their 999. [00:49:13] Speaker B: All right, let's take this call quickly. Hello. Good morning. [00:49:16] Speaker C: Good morning. [00:49:18] Speaker B: Good morning. [00:49:19] Speaker C: Good morning, sir. Good morning to Mr. Griffith there. Total respect for you, sir. As a police commissioner, you did an excellent job. You was on the right track. So sad to see that there was things was didn't go the way people interfere in the system and you didn't get to complete your mission. But I was listening to the program and I went. I rarely to the program. [00:49:47] Speaker B: All right, thank you. I understand where he's coming from. Good morning. [00:49:50] Speaker C: Morning. All Morning. All morning. Gary. Gary. Your problem was your commitment. Your commitment to your job. That was important. Your commitment to your job. You shine there you shown there. Thank you. All right. [00:50:03] Speaker B: I think he want to say that you're shot. You're sh. You're sh. He said you're shown. I think he. We understand. Good morning. [00:50:11] Speaker C: Hello. [00:50:12] Speaker B: Good morning. [00:50:13] Speaker C: Yeah, good morning to you, sir. Mr. Gary Biff, what a good job you have been doing for my soldier. The coming of national security and a commissioner, you have transformed the police a bit. But let me tell you something, come on, police. You know, I noticed something with police now when they are driving their patrol, the glass always up, never down. Any extent that somebody bing for help, they cannot hear you because they believe there's the in thing. Now that their glass up, although the sun may be hotting but your glass supposed to be down and the officer on the left hand side supposed to be visually watching or listening to anything that form of distress. Then they're driving nice vehicles and glass. What do you think about that? And one more question to you guys. When he was the commissioner police, did he used to trust the special branch to guard you or you have the police military that you're trained with because they cannot trust these officers in that. That's the question I would like to ask. [00:51:05] Speaker B: Before you respond, I want to dispel or con or confirm this notion and conversation about Gary making a separate police unit within the police service. So that runs in tandem with the question of who you trusted to secure you. So I would allow you to respond on those two fronts and finally dispelled any rumors about this nonsensical talk. [00:51:28] Speaker A: Well, yeah, but it is. You must have a unit within the service and I'll tell you why. When the Natalie Pollonay kidnapping took place, every time we got a tippoo and I was getting somewhere, the kidnappers were finding out what was going on. In most of the kidnappings, police officers were involved and I've been very blunt about it. I remember a young man was kidnapped for a few months and he was in. When I finally got him released, he was there and certain people came in, police officers, and they started speaking and the boy started crying and trembling. When they left, they said that is one of the men who was involved, he just heard the voice. [00:52:05] Speaker C: So. [00:52:05] Speaker A: And this is not in any way, please, I'm begging you all, trust the police services are small. There are police officers like this all over the world in every police service. So this is not a discredit. The point I'm trying to state is that when it is that information could be spread to every police department, there's a tip off of so and so. And they kept tipping off the police. That is why I formed a Special Operation Response Team. That team, you must have a unit that is so highly trained, highly polygraphed, their intelligence only stays with them. So when we were doing that, that is what put on. Listen, they put such a. We were able to raid Westmoreland's places. The 1% they talk about find out things with human trafficking, child prostitution, dealing with matters of illegal drugs, illegal weapons, rogue police officers, kidnapping, home invasion, extortion. That was the Special Operation Response Team. And now they shut it down. Out of Badmine, they transferred to a new the National Operation Task Force. And for the last three years their biggest hit people never heard about it, was to arrest an old lady for selling school books on the pavement. That was the difference. So that Special Operational Response Team was so highly elite and trained. It's just like swat. The swat, you must have a unit separate and apart from the police. You can't let every police officer know everything that's going on because you're going to have a rogue element in the police service that will speak, that will have the leak. There's another question you asked. [00:53:26] Speaker B: Well, we didn't get it. Let's. Let's take a call quickly. Good morning. [00:53:30] Speaker C: Morning. Morning again, Mr. Griffith. I want to ask a question. What do you think about this electric contractor that this government got into with this electric vehicle for police officers? And police officers don't have heavy teeth downgrading the vehicle in order that police officers could drive this vehicle and put them on access from the Savannah in Asset Angels to try them. What do you think about. Do you know anything about that arrangement with those new electric vehicles, Mr. Griffith? Right. [00:53:59] Speaker B: Good. [00:53:59] Speaker A: And that reminds me of the last question. So the last caller again, going back in North America, there was a police officer, his window was down, he was at the corner waiting and they hit a bullet through his head. And then, and again going back to the nypd, they started putting a bulletproof glass to security officers because they were targeted officers while you had vehicles, because that is the educated, intelligent, professional type of policing, have them in the vehicle just waiting for the apb, the one point bulletin, to respond to a distress call. Not sitting in a police post in a container cradling their thumbs. That is the difference with developed country policing to banana republic policing. And the police officers, their lives are indeed dangerous. So I strongly recommend the windows must remain up. It can act as an element that could protect the police officers if they're being targeted. So there is a value to that. So the Officer doesn't need to hear somebody shouting. That is where the vague. That is where that point bulletin comes in. The operational command center we had will then look at the vehicle in closest proximity and have them report to that distress call. That would be of value as it pertains to electric cars and so so forth. You can see North America, Europe. There are some vehicles with only two people in it. Two police officers. Again, going back to NYPD vehicles more like those little cars. You see the circus. [00:55:16] Speaker C: But. [00:55:17] Speaker A: So it's not to say that not every police vehicle is for a distress code. Not every police vehicle is required for patrols and operations. It's horses for courses. Some required just to transport documents, finance and so forth. I had a problem when the last prime minister foolishly had a concern because. Because I was trying to get SUVs for police. And he said why they must get SUVs for. But he wanted to go in a sedan. To be going all up in terrain to do patrols. You cannot do that. A police vehicle. The wear and tear is five times more than the average citizen's vehicle. You use your vehicle, what about four hours for the day? A police vehicle is 20 hours for the day. So if your vehicle will last you 10 years, a police vehicle will last a couple of years. And so that is why it is important you do this rotation of the vehicles. And if you have to go in, you have to go 20 hours a day patrolling some type of. No Trinidad Tobago routes. It is difficult. So you need to have the proper type of vehicles to respond to distress calls and even to secure the police officers. You have police officers in the back of a pickup in operations. Apart from you breaking the law. You're targeting them, you're making them a target. All of these things I was changing. It was all shut down and this mantle because of pettiness. And let me quickly add to the people who may criticize me because you support the government. This was the same Gary Griffith when I was Commissioner of Police that was pressured by the previous administration to lock up Carmelo Passad B Cesso. And I refused because I did not in any way. You can't influence me to do anything to make me stay as a commissioner. I don't need it and I didn't need to sell my soul like others would have done. So when I buy. Because they knew that if he arrested Kamala Prasad Biseso that would have gone into the 2025 election. Nobody voting floating voters for a political leader with an arrest with that have a charge on overhead. They knew what they wanted, I refused. I paid the price for it. So. And it's because of that that probably caused the UNC to get into government. So for those UNC supporters who don't like one would have two words on a seat. Damn ungrateful. [00:57:13] Speaker B: All right. [00:57:14] Speaker C: Hello. [00:57:14] Speaker B: Good morning. Quickly. [00:57:15] Speaker C: All right. [00:57:15] Speaker B: Good morning. Good morning. Hello. Yes. [00:57:20] Speaker C: Yeah, morning. And morning to the captain there. Morning, sir. Listen, good morning. I don't know. It is a. Is a painfully frustrating thing to hear call us calling in who don't have a clue a from Bullfoot about defense and security and talking crap. Boy, you have a subject matter expert there. I operate with that man. When I say, well, we were in the same club together at one point in time. We're never really no friends or anything. But his personality have nothing to do with. With his integrity and his professionalism and people letting personality get in the way of good judgment in good sense. [00:58:07] Speaker A: I appreciate it. [00:58:08] Speaker C: You understand what I'm saying? [00:58:09] Speaker B: I understand. [00:58:10] Speaker C: And all kind of call us trying to call and. And discredit this man. Boy, [00:58:16] Speaker B: listen, this is. This is the society we exist in. Thank you very much, caller. We. Once you put yourself into the public's domain, you set yourself up for commendation and scrutiny at the same time. And that is the balance of our very fragile ecosystem worldwide, not just in Trinidad. Once you take up a camera and you record yourself and drop a post on TikTok, Facebook, Instagram, anywhere publicly or send it on WhatsApp, you have opened yourself up. [00:58:47] Speaker A: Here's the concern I always have is that I will make a comment. As I said in the last three weeks, I made a comment commending the government for working with the United States in the regional security and commended the government for the ID cards and the same individuals who. The same individuals in the unc. Oh, he's the great. I remember Kamala said he's the greatest commissioner ever. That is why. And the PNM supporters. He's singing for esopa and you're looking for a walk when it is now criticized the police post and I bring in points on data that nobody could question and challenge me on. The same UNT supporters just the day before, sour grapes. The CMP supporters that were criticizing me now saying that man is the best. So you're making decisions not based on the facts, not based on the data, but how it benefits your political party. And that is where the independent thinkers go out the window. And there are 200,000 on both sides, regardless of what every single thing that the UNC says is either right or wrong, depending on which side of the political fence you want. You're not looking at data, facts, documentation, because you have to support unc. They must do no, they can't do no wrong. PNM could do no right and vice versa. [00:59:55] Speaker B: But you have said something that I had to touch on. I mean, I'm really grateful and I want to thank you in advance again for staying with us this just for this duration because I think these topics are very important. Look up Kamala Passant B Cessa when she was in opposition and you said I nobody can dictate the police. Did you tell me what to do for me to save my workmail? Lock up the woman for my thing about it is when they say lock up Kamala Prasad Bisessa when she was the opposition leader. Good morning to you, Mr. Prime Minister. When they say lock up Camel, what does that mean? What we locking up the prime. What are we locking up the opposition leader for? What was the charge? You didn't lock up somebody. [01:00:32] Speaker A: Remember there was the email gate, there was the plant like substance and there was a. There was finances that Barry Patarat would have transferred from one account to another based on stipend that a Prime Minister receives when she was prime minister. And those were three investigations and I was being pressured on and I said and I had to say, hey, pull up brother. You're fast and out of place. You can't pressure me. There was a government minister calls me and tells me hey, I bring in some documents across across the air for lock of David Lee. I said, but you're fast and out of place and you see people look at me when it is. I had the same clash with Keith Rowley when Rowley wanted me to, when the government was speaking to me about arresting tribo men because they were in a swimsuit and they were saying that, remember during COVID they said I should lock them up because they were in groups of more than 5. But the same kid Rowley was so clueless he didn't understand his own law. I said he and I argued for several hours that night because he was so clueless he didn't know that public health regulations did not give the police the authority and that's why he went flesh. Philip Alexander, another I don't know how he went St. Mary's but he kept saying I went on lockup. I went and locked up all the little black boys on the beach, but I didn't lock up people in a wedding. Philip Alexander, educate yourself if you could. I'm low level passes Was oh gosh, Gary. But I'm being blunt. I'm being blunt because he keeps talking about it. So let me educate him. Any public in the public health regulations if. If 400 people our wedding or in our house I can't do anything because they're invited. If five left and go on the beach, I could lock them up. It was the most dotish law. But the PNM did the law. Don't expect me to circumvent it and lock up people because you made a bad law. So Rowley wanted me. So the government wants me to arrest people and I stood firm and I paid the price for it. I don't care when it is that you tell me go and lock up David Lee. Because so and so I looked at the files and I didn't see it was enough. And I refused and I paid the political price. And so what I could walk in my head held high any part of this country. The people who are logical thinkers realized I did what was correct. You can't brainwash me. And it happened even when I was in government as a minister. People were telling me get amnesia over the matter with David west, with that matter with him. I said I'm not doing it. I will speak what I know. And up to now I never said that the Attorney General, the execution general was right or wrong. But. But don't come and try to influence me to say Adam Leisure, you're fasting out of place. That's the reason I could be a minister or a commissioner and lose my work the next day because I don't need a job. [01:03:02] Speaker B: All right. Hello. Good morning. [01:03:03] Speaker A: Quickly baby. [01:03:05] Speaker B: Yes. [01:03:06] Speaker C: Morale is here, right? Another pleasant Good morning Mr. How you going? [01:03:10] Speaker B: He's right here. [01:03:11] Speaker C: All right. Mr. Griffith, all due respect to your pleasant good morning there's just now when somebody said something about the murder rate your response was a bit aggressive and that kind of work against. Yeah, you need to kind of like. Oh yeah. I think the better response would have been the data. The data will tell us that so when somebody of your level. [01:03:35] Speaker B: All right maybe. [01:03:42] Speaker C: Tell us the the facts so we need to work out because that's now tender damage the good information I tried to bring it tends to block it. Have a list of die. [01:03:51] Speaker A: Well the thing is I'm not begging for votes. I tell you as it is if you don't like it well, you could sleep by it. I give in facts. Take it or leave it. [01:03:57] Speaker B: Hello. Good morning. Good morning. [01:04:00] Speaker C: Morning to you, Davy. Morning to Mr. Griffith. There's one thing I Want to clear up when Mr. Griffith spoke about PNM supporter and UNC supporters. Davy, I support Mr. Griffith on this occasion in relation to that approach for post. It can't work. He would have proven in his career in security that it can't work. But that being said, there were areas where Mr. Griffith would have made statements in relation to in fact becoming a commissioner where the only support he got was some TNM supporters. But we told him on a particular radio station, Gary, take it down a little bit. You cannot have a leader tell you hey come to you and you say you can't summon him, you can't do them kind of thing. So for me, I like Mr. Griffith. But you know what my advice to him that you need to tone down. Yes, now we're telling him that. But I agree with him on this one in relation to those posts is the cost alignment. He could tell us if the cost alignment was used for vehicles and persons would have it. Would it have been better? Have a good day. [01:04:57] Speaker B: One thing I like about Gary not freed all. You know, he always willing to engage and deal with it. So here's the question I want to ask you in tandem with what Rowley Jr. Just said. Can the Prime Minister summons the Commissioner of Police to a matter to anything to engage the commissioner with any conversation, is it that the Prime Minister can pick up the phone which and let the Commissioner know I need to see you report to my office. How is it done? [01:05:27] Speaker A: It has there's a degree of diplomacy and tact. And because again many persons they never went further than Gaspar Grant. They don't know. I recall during COVID 23 police chiefs, 23 in throughout the United States started letting the President, the most powerful man on the planet know. Hey brother, what you're seeing is affecting my city. You're causing the black lives matter and all that. You need to shut up. Police commissioners and chiefs were telling the president shut up. You know why? Because it's not a banana republic. You come here, the man put you there. The man have you in power. You need to shut up and listen to what he has to say. That is why we have puppet commissioners of police. Because they feel that I need to listen to what the Prime Minister says. Because if I don't listen, he or she might go in parliament and remove me. You have to be at times, you have to be honest. If I didn't do what I do, they did and stood up against the Prime Minister then to explain that he was clueless in understanding public health regulations. Every junior Police officer would have been locking up everybody who had more than 10 persons in their house for Mother's Day, a little party or whatever, I had to stand firm and say, hey, brother, shut up. You do not understand law enforcement. Don't be giving the public advice on matters as it pertains to policing. The police cannot arrest persons. If you have 500 people in a wedding, I can't arrest you because they were invited. If seven of them leave and they go by the beach, I could arrest them. It was a stupid law because he didn't want to have an soe. He wanted to have public health regulations. Public health meant we could only deal with the public in a public place. So it means that I will do what is required, but do not feel that the Prime Minister could summon a Commissioner of Police. If a Prime Minister says, gary, I want to see her, I will go, but don't want to make a public statement, I am summoning you, I'll put you in your place. Because the Commissioner of Police reports to the Police Service Commission. However, he must have that degree of respect and the respect must be reciprocal. You can't expect to embarrass a commissioner in the public to say, well, I think the Commissioner not doing a good job and you need to lock up people in Bayside as much as he locking up people by the beach. Know your place, Prime Minister, which is what I did. I put him in his place. [01:07:33] Speaker B: So the Prime Minister, having an issue with someone, cannot summons the Commissioner of Police and say, listen, I needed to investigate this. Oh, I need to arrest this person. They cannot do that. No politics. Does the Commissioner of Police answer to the Prime Minister or the Minister of National Security or the Police Complaints Authority or the Service Commission? [01:07:55] Speaker A: The PC has nothing to do with it. This is the Police Service Commission. That is who he reports to. He or she reports to. That is where he's assessed. He's not even assessed by the Prime Minister. So when people ask the Prime Minister, what is the grade, that will be, very well. She gave him an A grade. That is irrelevant. Her view is as equivalent as any citizen of this country. So the grade is based on the Police Service Commission. However, you expect that the Commissioner of Police will have some degree of respect because remember, he's also an advisor to the National Security Council. So he's required to attend meetings, to give advice. Bad as it may be to have an sue indefinitely because I can't deal with intelligence, to turn to evidence. Bad as it may be to say, license posted every street corner, but that so he's expected to communicate, have dialogue and give respect to the Prime Minister as the chair of the National Security Council. But anytime the Prime Minister starts to give this impression, I own you, I control you. I can direct you. You have now totally started to discredit that chain of command as it pertains to politicians having some control and like to give direction to the commission of police. There must be that avenue where the commissioner of police could say, look, you are making decisions and comments and you're stepping over the line. And it happened. So I said, when a minister could call me and tell me, I sent you a file to lock up. David Lee, you're fast and out of place. Don't feel you could direct me and influence me. And with that, that is how the firearm lies came about. We can't get. We had to get rid of him to put a puppet. So let's say that they have firearm corruption. You know, just five years, not one person get arrested for. For corruption of firearms based on all the lies of the audit. [01:09:28] Speaker B: All right, let's take a listen to this one. [01:09:30] Speaker A: Morning again, Davy, for the first time, I'm very disappointed in how you conduct your program this morning at the nado. Why you continue to tell your. Your contributors to be respectful towards your guests or whatever, but you have your guests disrespecting everybody. [01:09:48] Speaker B: You know, this is where I just lose. I just wonder if people in this country have selective hearing. I never allowed Captain Griffith to disrespect you or you to disrespect him. I started the program and I maintained throughout the program, please be respectful of each other. Griffin said, boy, if they come at me, I fighting back, you know, And I said, okay, wait, no. So I was dealing with the matter very balanced and transparent. So I don't know if you was in the bathroom or you went outside to check, check your car, or somebody call you because the lolly cart was passing. He went to buy a lolly, but I don't know. I did. And Gary is sitting right there. I mean, he was. I don't hold back. I did tell him, hey, Gary caller. That we did what. We dealt with it. [01:10:36] Speaker A: So this is, this is the type of. Though having been a PNM supporter that said something negative and I fired back, you know, like what they're saying. And that is the point. The type of hypocrites they have in this country, if it, if it. If a UNC supporter is. Doesn't get their way, attack me, attack the person. If it's the other way around support them. You can't be operating. [01:10:59] Speaker B: I did say that. When Gary shot at the call, I said, hey, Gary, hold on, hold on. With the big fish conversation with Ms. Madras. [01:11:05] Speaker A: That is the typical UNC blind loyalist. He didn't hear that part at all. He didn't hear the part of the caller disrespecting me, but when I respond, he heard that part and he heard me. [01:11:16] Speaker B: Yeah, he had hear me telling the [01:11:18] Speaker A: callers to be respectfully blind. Political lawyer. Let's just speak about. Here's what they wanted. [01:11:24] Speaker C: Hello. [01:11:24] Speaker B: Good morning. [01:11:25] Speaker C: Good morning. Respectfully, as you said, David, I want to correct something Captain Griffith has said. If a prime minister or a minister of government approaches the commissioner of police, he has as much rank as. As a doubles man or the bacon shark vendor. He cannot tell the commissioner. If someone has evidence, you take it to the police. The police does an investigation, and by convention, they must consult the Office of the Director of Public Prosecution for instructions as to how to proceed. So a commissioner of police like Gary Griffith cannot go and just arrest him and suggest it does not work that way. There must be an investigation. It must be presented to the office of the dpp. And the DPP then determine yea or nay, as in Ula Hayward. Christopher, thank you for listening. [01:12:18] Speaker B: I didn't think that. [01:12:19] Speaker A: Let me add. Let me show you a perfect example of that when it is. You had the situation with Brent Thomas. This was a minister directing the police to travel because no police officer could leave our territorial waters with all the authorization of the Minister of National Security. Up to this day. I kept pleading with this Attorney General and this prime minister set up a commission of inquiry. Somebody need to go to jail. If a minister was involved in directing and influencing the police to commit a crime, he should be investigated and it is not being done. That is a typical example of a point being where a minister can influence the police in the performance of their duties. [01:12:56] Speaker B: All right, so let's listen to this caller quickly. Good morning, David. [01:13:00] Speaker C: While the American system of a chief of police being voted in. I'm not. Now, there are lots of things that we will have as what you call models, independent models. I'm still saying that is disrespectful. The prime minister still is now summoned the commissioner, but he didn't tell you. Gary, I summon you. So while I listen to Mr. Griffith, one of the things he has to notice why nobody wants you in the space is because I think it have a lot to do with your behavior. You have to do some introspection, sir. All the best. [01:13:27] Speaker A: Well, this is. Well, this introspection is why I have done more in my. For my country in one day that you have done in your lifetime. [01:13:33] Speaker C: My, my. [01:13:33] Speaker A: What I would have achieved as a soldier, as a security minister, as a minister of national security and a commissioner. And so that is why they did so instead of you giving advice, I could tell you what I did in a deal you haven't done in your lifetime, brother. [01:13:45] Speaker B: All right, all right. We ain't trying to wait when you [01:13:47] Speaker A: can put yourself in Gary. We're not trying to performer he never [01:13:53] Speaker B: did anything but we don't know we know what your we know your accolades and what you have achieved as a. As a national. But I said so we don't want to attack. Let me just deal with. [01:14:04] Speaker A: If you want to give me advice show me your track record. [01:14:07] Speaker C: All right. [01:14:08] Speaker A: You can't be accountant in a double stand, but you want to give me advice. [01:14:11] Speaker C: Hello. [01:14:11] Speaker B: Good morning [01:14:14] Speaker C: Captain Gary. It will all be like that by the end of the day. You know, you right you trim. You trim your brother many others anyway the end of the day. [01:14:30] Speaker B: All right [01:14:33] Speaker C: what you did they defend the when the woman call and stuff certain thing and you apologize to the. To the caller and you did a good job and it says Captain Garrick call it yet everything is under control because you don't want to steal the customers and be dis. [01:14:48] Speaker B: What is the same they are doing for. For them are trying to tell Gary to attack him. You know if he didn't contribute on a. On a A nationalistic level. We don't know. You know you defend you but leave him you know. [01:15:08] Speaker A: Expect to swing at me and talking. Yeah, yeah, yeah. [01:15:11] Speaker B: All right. [01:15:13] Speaker A: He made a comment and let me show the importance of here. We need people in positions that will just be puppets. So if a prime minister or a government try to tell me Gary have amnesia in the David west matter I must do that. No I put in your place fire I don't need a walk a comfortable all right. [01:15:28] Speaker B: Okay. [01:15:29] Speaker A: If you're as a government telling me lock up Kamala I will put you in your place if you don't like it. Fire Fireman and they fireman. Look what happened you get the only thing what saved them in 2020 we failure with everything but we give all your Gary Griffin I was a poster boy. I never thought I'd be a centerfold I was a poster boy in PM manifesto that caught him in 2020. You turn on me the country bust your truth so it doesn't do me anything you know, I could walk in my head, somebody high, that I didn't sell my soul for any survival of a post. [01:15:57] Speaker B: I get in a mixture here. Davy the man, right. Davey, bring back. I love this. No, I want to say publicly, Rowley and Bar, I apologize to you all on behalf of Gary Griffin. He don't. He shouldn't attack you guys and, and I stand by that. All right, Gary, if you any people. [01:16:18] Speaker A: Yes, sir. [01:16:21] Speaker B: Hey, let me take this call before we wrap. We just ten minutes out. Good morning. [01:16:26] Speaker C: Good morning to Mr. Gary and. And you, David. [01:16:29] Speaker B: Yeah, morning [01:16:33] Speaker C: for Rowley Jr. The man telling the truth. [01:16:35] Speaker B: Well, it don't matter. We still. I'm not studying what Rowley Jr lying or. No, I agree. Rowley Jr could say what his comments [01:16:41] Speaker C: always have everything perfectly and he breaks in anyway. And you know, this time you never say ego callback. Thank you. [01:16:47] Speaker B: All right. You know, I think we would have exhausted our conversations this morning. And the thing about it is we all want the same outcome as safer Trinidad and Tobago. That is the mandate. I mentioned this. And Gary, you can weigh in on this very quickly. If we are shooting for a trajectory of goodness. So we walk into our community and we tell the community we want to put up our eye in the sky. We want to develop some kind of thing to monitor people. We want to do this to keep the community safe. But we didn't say we come in by you, John Smith, and put on this thing in your yard. And then you wake up half past two in the morning in your backyard digging a hole to plant a pole. Would you accept it? I'm quite certain you're looking for compensation for damaged property, for trespassing, for everything. Because as much as the initiative is a good, good one, where the result is to be safer in the community, you didn't tell me it's coming on my property. And I think that was what the Tunapuna Piaka Regional Corporation was all about. We didn't discredit the idea of something being good. What we looked at is the man in which it was done. Gary, you could comment on it. [01:18:01] Speaker A: Yeah, yeah, I agree. And that's where communication comes in. But even with the setting up of the, of the, the, the post, apart from the fact that I gave all the data, the documentation, the evidence to verify that posts don't reduce crime, you're hearing now that they have to shift the goalposts, they have to shift the post again. Is it that they didn't speak to the police? Is it that you now realize if it is you set up a police post that is about. That is about 500 meters from a station the average Stevie Wonder and Richard will see. But you have to be crazy. How could that be of value? So is it that there was not enough research done and it's just a wap up? Look, I'm a politician. Let me set up one year. Oh, let me set up one year. And it's a nice one to set up that. It seems that that is what it was. Homeland, which goes back to a point of the PDO where I said that the commissioner should be the person who directs a PDO rather than a politician to avoid any perception of political manipulation to have persons incarcerated indefinitely. [01:18:56] Speaker B: Homeland Security Minister, the honorable Roger Alexander is in the papers this morning. Are saying that they have to now revisit the positions in which they wanted to put it down because. And this is the part that mashed me up, I highlighted in the papers this morning law enforcement may not regard the original sites as strategically suitable. So who did you speak to? [01:19:23] Speaker A: And that is the point. As a Minister of National Security, you cannot be involved in the operations. You could be involved in policies. So in other words, when I drafted the Community Comfort Patrol or the City Rapid Response Unit, I had to work with the Commissioner of Police to make sure we analyze it properly before we did the launch. You can't just jump in and override and impose something on the police and then after the police don't come in and tell you, hey, smart man, that is wrong. You now have to walk like Michael Jackson. Now because there must have been some degree of knowledge and research done as it pertains. Even with the NOC intelligence agencies will show this is where. This is where the situation should be. This could be of value because we have a police station there. Setting up a police station 200 meters away makes no sense. Let's set it up five miles away. That is what should have been done. Obviously it was not. So it means that there was this. This is not based on some proper analysis. It's based on a wide. Yes. [01:20:15] Speaker B: Captain Gary Griffith, former Army personnel, former Commissioner of Police, National Security Minister, former. And now a new hat being worn. Grandpa. [01:20:26] Speaker A: Yeah, yeah. Let me quickly add before I close, you know, I think that is where the problem will always lie. People believe that to be in a position you have to be a puppet. I'm not a puppet. And it goes in the territory. There's nobody better than me when it comes to security. I could blow my trumpet. But because of that, what goes in the territory, I Am not going to be a yes man. And when I was a commissioner, the last thing I wanted and minister and as an army captain with all the. I was. I was not 3, 400 men under my command as a captain, I said I do not. I want to be the dumbest person in the room at times. I am prepared. Give me the experts. There are people I didn't like at all, you know, but I wanted them because they were the best persons for that job. [01:21:05] Speaker B: Love what you said. [01:21:06] Speaker A: That is what we have missing in this country. We don't. So a prime minister would love to have a gullible commissioner or weak minister national security. So that you will just do as I say. That prime minister will walk around naked and everybody will say, hey, prime Minister, you can go. You're looking good. Not me. I've always been here to tell you what you need, not what you need to know, rather than what you want to hear. And with that, I am a difficult person because my job is to do what is right, not just try to please you. Because I want to keep a walk. I don't need a walk that bad. [01:21:33] Speaker B: I want to thank you very much, Captain Gary Griffith. Now, Grandpa Griffith, congratulations on your, you know, the birth of your grandchild. And I know you're gonna Gary Griffin [01:21:42] Speaker A: the fourth, by the way. [01:21:43] Speaker B: Oh, that's Gary Griffith iv. Ah, interesting. Well, congratulations on the birth of your grandson. And I know you're gonna be doing granddad duties very soon. Don't get yourself a headache with this this what's happening. You know, enjoy the granddaddies that's ahead of you. And also put yourself in our readiness, sir. They just might call you to sit down in the commissioner's seat again. You never know. With that being said, have a nice one. Take care, buddy. [01:22:08] Speaker A: The best insight, instant feedback, accountability. 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