Gary Griffith Warns ‘Blind Political Loyalty’ Threatens Trinidad and Tobago’s Progress

Former Commissioner of Police Gary Griffith has issued a stark warning against what he describes as ‘blind political loyalty’ in Trinidad and Tobago. According to Griffith, such loyalty fosters partisan divisions that prevent citizens from objectively assessing critical national policies.

In his statement, Griffith criticized the tendency of citizens to evaluate policies based on the proposing political party rather than on the merits of the policies themselves. He cited recent public positions he has taken as examples. For instance, Griffith questioned the effectiveness of adding more police posts to improve productivity and opposed politicians having the power to issue Preventative Detention Orders that can deprive citizens of freedom.

While some government supporters praised him for backing measures like mandatory public ID with safeguards and joint operations with the U.S., others criticized him for questioning certain policies. Griffith believes these reactions highlight how political allegiance often overshadows rational policy evaluation.

Griffith insists that his stances are grounded in research and professional experience, not political bias. He warned that expecting unwavering support or opposition based on party lines fosters a divisive ‘with us or against us’ mentality. This can lead to a lack of accountability as politicians are shielded by loyal supporters.

Ultimately, Griffith urged citizens to independently assess each policy’s impact on national interest rather than relying on party affiliation. He stressed the importance of integrity, objectivity, and independence in political discourse to ensure the country’s progress and prevent it from remaining in a cycle of destructive political partisanship.