THE police firearms unit at the core of the imbroglio involving former police commissioner Gary Griffith, the now defunct Police Service Commission (PSC) and the leadership of the service, is in “quarantine.”
On Saturday, the Prime Minister, during his media briefing at the Diplomatic Centre, St Ann's said the firearms department was closed.
“One of the recommendations that came through the plethora, was that the the firearms department in the police service (is) quarantined. The only person who can sign a firearm user's license is the commissioner so the deputy commissioner while he is running the police service, cannot.”
Dr Rowley was helped by National Security Minister Fitzgerald Hinds in labelling the department “quarantined.” When contacted for clarification, Hinds said since the issue was raised of alleged impropriety taking place in granting of firearm user's licences (FULs) it was only proper for the unit to be closed.
Hinds said: “As you're well aware, retired Justice of Appeal Stanley John has been mandated to conduct an investigation into certain matters pertaining to the issue of firearm licences. The firearm unit, or registry, is very central to his observation.
"So, quite naturally, the preservation of the records and matters pertaining to it is important, that it is in that context, the police service, cooperating fully as it does, and as it must with Mr John have quarantined, is the word I used, froze all activities in relation to that section, in order to permit the observations of Mr John."
John was appointed on September 1 by the now defunct PSC led by Bliss Seepersad to investigate allegations of corruption in the issuing of FULs. The PSC began their investigations while Griffith, who it appointed to act as police commissioner from August 17 until a substantive CoP is appointed, was on leave. Griffith was subsequently suspended on September 17, mere days before he was scheduled to resume duty, pending the outcome of the probe.
[caption id="attachment_916747" align="alignnone" width="952"] DCP McDonald Jacob, currently acting Police Commissioner, can continue to manage the police, until the Police Service Commission is appointed to recruit a substantive Commissioner of Police, the Prime Minister said on Saturday. - File photo/Jeff K Mayers[/caption]
That suspension was eventually withdrawn after Griffith agreed to stay away from work until John completes his probe and also led to a legal challenge which is still before the court.
The PSC began their investigation after the National Security Council (NSC), led by Rowley, initiated their own investigation. The NSC asked retired Rear Admiral Hayden Pritchard and retired Snr Supt Arthur Barrington to conduct that investigation into the granting of firearms permits to civilians, the results of which triggered the PSC’s investigation. The investigation was done because the NSC “became aware of public disquiet” Hinds told the Senate last month.
Apart from the two organisati
