ATTORNEY Larry Lalla on Monday wrote to the Police Service Commission (PSC) requesting that it not consider the contents of a report of a previous incarnation of the PSC when considering Gary Griffith for the post of Police Commissioner.
In a two page letter sent to PSC chairman retired Justice Judith Jones, Lalla asked for confirmation that the contents of a report done by retired Justice Stanley John into allegations of a bribery racket for firearm users licences (FULs), will not be considered during the process for selecting a Police Commissioner.
John was hired to conduct the investigation in December 2020 after the National Security Council (NSC), chaired by the Prime Minister, appointed retired Rear Admiral Hayden Pritchard and retired Snr Supt Arthur Barrington to look into the issuing of FULs.
At the time Griffith had approved over 5,000 FULs, with over 100 civilians granted permission to carry high powered weapons. Before his tenure, an average of 200 FULs were issued annually, mainly for civilians to carry handguns and shotguns.
The Police Complaints Authority (PCA) also investigated the increase in FUL successful applications while the police service had their own criminal investigation leading to 15 charges against two officers assigned to the firearms unit.
ASP Aaron Beddoe, 56 and Sgt David Swanson, 45, were charged with misbehaviour in public office by conspiring with other people between February and April 2021 to approve variation letters for licensed firearm holders to purchase additional firearms and ammunition. Beddoe was charged with six offences while Swanson was charged with nine.
Last month Griffith re-applied for the post of Commissioner which was advertised in June with a deadline date for applicants at 4 pm on June 30. A previous list of potential candidates was discarded after the former PSC led by chairman Bliss Seepersad imploded.
The application became necessary after a completed merit list was submitted to President Paula-Mae Weekes on August 11, 2021 and immediately withdrawn. The Jones-led PSC said the previous list will be abandoned for a fresh process. The withdrawal of the merit list triggered calls for government members to resign, changed the laws to select a police commissioner and deputies and a failed attempt by the Opposition to impeach the President.
In his letter, Lalla wrote: “Should your Commission decide to use the said report in considering and treating with Mr Griffith’s said application, that he would be first provided with a copy of the report and be allowed a reasonable opportunity to consider the contents of same prior to receiving any questions your Commission may have on the contents.”
Lalla said previous attempts to get a copy of the report from the PSC were unsuccessful. He said there were inaccuracies in the public domain that were supposedly part of the report. He said the report covered the period 2018-2021 when Griffith was Police Commissioner. He added that at no time prior to the completion of the report was his client given an oppo
