Gary Griffith, former Commissioner of Police and former Minister of National Security, has raised alarms over the use of Preventive Detention Orders (PDOs) during the current State of Emergency. Griffith warns that such powers could pave the way for a dangerous precedent for future governments if not properly regulated. His concern is not a critique of the current administration or Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar, but rather a call for the protection of the democratic rights of all citizens, irrespective of their political leanings.
Griffith questions the authority of the Minister of National Security to sign a Preventive Detention Order, which can deprive a citizen of their freedom without criminal charges, a court hearing, bail or a trial. He emphasizes that there is no legal obligation for the minister to first seek recommendations from the Commissioner of Police or legal advisers before authorising a detention order.
In the larger picture, Griffith warns that powers available to one government today could unknowingly be utilized by another administration in the future. He urges citizens to consider the long-term implications beyond the current political climate. He advocates that arrests should be based on evidence capable of supporting criminal charges, not merely on intelligence.
Furthermore, Griffith maintains that a State of Emergency should not be used as a primary crime-fighting strategy. He proposes targeted initiatives, such as Zones of Special Operations (ZOSOs), for addressing criminal activity while upholding citizens’ constitutional rights. He concludes with a call for a public discourse on the equilibrium between national security and the safeguarding of fundamental freedoms.
