The United National Congress (UNC) is accusing National Security Minister Fitzgerald Hinds of using his influence to expedite firearm users’ licences (FULs) for his security detail.
The party may soon ask the Integrity Commission to investigate Hinds for allegedly abusing his power as a minister. The Opposition believes what is even more egregious is that Hinds seemed to have lied about it at a sitting of a Joint Select Committee of Parliament in 2022 and may also file a motion of privileges against him.
Oropouche East MP Dr Roodal Moonilal provided Guardian Media with WhatsApp text message exchanges purportedly between Hinds and then police commissioner Gary Griffith in 2021.
Hinds, who was sent screenshots of the messages via WhatsApp yesterday, dismissed the claims.
“I have no time for side shows and skittish ra ra with Moonilal and Gary Griffith, both of whom have serious questions to answer to the courts and the police, respectively! I prefer to leave them to answer their questions alone.”
Griffith said that he could confirm nor deny the messages. He admitted, however, “What was amazing is when Hinds was asked that in Parliament, he denied, which was a lie, and I will leave it at that.”
Dr Moonilal provided four pictures of the alleged conversation between Hinds and Griffith.
It begins: “Commissioner, I have a couple FUL applications for my security detail of soldiers. There is no objection from their Warrant and the TTDF. I have watched them now for two years and I am satisfied that they are fit and worthy. They rotate with the CJ’s detail as well. Please give them your most favourable consideration. Should I send them directly to you? Thank you.”
The response purportedly from Griffith said, “Sir. Yeah. Just whats app me full name with reference number.”
A forwarded message was then blanked out in the picture. However, the follow up message allegedly from Hinds said, “The others have not yet applied. I have the completed application forms. Should I send them to you?”
Another message said to be from Hinds said, “You see why we are in a mess? Commissioner what is the position with the applications for the guys on my detail?”
The response was, “Sir. Send me back the names and ref numbers please.”
A few messages after were blacked out in the screenshot sent to Guardian Media. It picks up with Hinds purportedly saying, “Commissioner. Two have file numbers. The others are also of the Security detail, but their applications are languishing in the police stations as noted. Thanks.”
The response, allegedly from Griffith said, “Would handle now, Sir.”
What the Firearms Act states
The messages do not state if the FULs were for private use or to assist them with the execution of their security duties. However, Section 7 (1) of the Firearms Act states that certain members of the protective services, while in the execution of their duties are exempted from needing a FUL. The act states, “The following persons are exempt from the provisions of section 6(1) that relate to having a firearm or ammunition in their possession: (a) a police officer acting in his capacity as such or any member of a Municipal Police Service within the meaning of Part III of the Municipal Corporations Act acting in his capacity as such or a member of the Special Reserve Police established under the Special Reserve Police Act acting in his capacity as such or a member of the Defence Force acting in his capacity as such, or a prison officer acting in his capacity as such, or a Customs officer acting in his capacity as such if the firearm and ammunition are the property of the Government.”
This suggests that if the firearms were for the minister’s security personnel to conduct their duties, they did not need to acquire a FUL.
Hinds at 2022 JSC: I made no recommendation to any commissioner for anybody
Moonilal, speaking about what transpired at the JSC meeting, said, “When I pressed Mr Hinds on this matter in a Joint Select Committee, he said categorically that he never recommended anyone for FULs and then we have in our possession screenshots involving him.”
Guardian Media went back to that JSC sitting in November 2022, which was aimed at examining the factors that contribute to the prevalence of illegal firearms and gun violence in T&T.
During the sitting, Dr Moonilal told Minister Hinds, who appeared before the committee, “You indicated then that you had no recollection that you recommended persons; minister, I am inviting you to reflect on that and to correct yourself.”
Minister Hinds responded, “I am saying that I have no recall of recommending anybody for any firearm.”
Dr Moonilal then said, “My question to the honourable minister is, minister, on a more relaxed reflection, you recommended ten persons to the then commissioner of police, and I leave it there.”
This caused some uproar in the JSC meeting with the minister saying, “I want the record to read I made no recommendation to any commissioner for anybody for any firearm. I can explain in greater detail, but it will be risky and foolish and stupid; however, suffice it to say, I recommended no one for any firearm.” Yesterday, Dr Moonilal said, “I think this constitutes an abuse of power, and we may well take a decision to write to the integrity commission on this matter where it appears that he is using his authority to seek the interest of a few persons and not the national community, as the case may be.”
He added, “It’s a very serious matter, and we intend to study the matter closely. We have sight now of the screenshots and we are looking at them to see whether or not we can write the integrity commission and cause an investigation into Fitzgerald Hinds.”
But it may not end there. Dr Moonilal said, “We will also look to see if the records of that JSC can be used to file a motion of privilege against him for that blatant lie.”
Griffith speaks
Meanwhile, Griffith told Guardian Media, “Obviously, I would not go into details into the names of persons and whether they got firearms or not. However, in a similar way with the Prime Minister, I was bombarded constantly by very senior government officials to get firearms for their friends in high places.” However, Griffith wanted to underscore that “this is not in any way stating that this is something that is illegal or unethical; the reason why they do this is because of the breakdown in the administration of firearms, and that is what happens throughout our public service. People always try to find a friend and pull a string.”
He added, “If a politician decides to deliberately try to influence or bully the officeholder to get something done without due process, that is something totally different; I am not stating in any way that is what they did.”
But the former commissioner did take aim at the Prime Minister and National Security when he said, “The hypocrisy of Keith Rowley, Fitzgerald Hinds, and others because they continue to complain about me giving firearms to the small businessman, the farmer, to the homeowner who wants to protect his family. By me doing that, it was a problem, but it was okay for them to ask me for their friends.”