Now Army vex over COP ad

Gary Griffith as he appears in the COP press advertisement.

ON THE heels of the furore over a police corporal appearing in a PNM press advertisement, St Ann’s East candidate for the Congress of the People (COP), Gary Griffith, has found himself in hot water with the T&T Defence Force for appearing in a political ad while wearing an army uniform.

In the ad, featuring prospective COP crime-fighting heavyweights, Griffith is shown wearing an army cap and is identified as a “Captain.”

Yesterday, Chief of Defence Staff Brigadier Edmund Dillion, said Griffith, a former Army captain, had no authority to wear a Defence Force uniform and no right to have allowed the photograph to appear in the ad.

Dillon said Griffith resigned from the Defence Force and was now a civilian. He said the Defence Force did not consider Griffith a captain.

Dillon said, “He resigned and this does not allow him to use the uniform. He should know better.”

Dillon acknowled, however, the photograph of Griffith could have been an old photograph, but felt it should not be used in the promotion of a political party.

“We (the Defence Force) don’t look at that as positive at all. We don’t expect that type of behaviour even if he resigned. He is not allowed to do that,” Dillon said.

“Griffith should have known better. The army does not condone that.”

Dillon said he intended to call Griffith and ask him to address the matter.

The army chief said there were army regulations against this.

Dillon said army officers were also not allowed to enter the various army camps with political paraphernalia.

He said while soldiers can be politically aware “we cannot be politically involved.”

Contacted yesterday, Captain Al Alexander, public relations officer of the Defence Force, agreed it was “against military tradition” for Griffith to carry the title of “captain.”

“Only people carrying the rank of major and above are allowed carry their rank even after leaving the army,” he said.

“I have a serious problem with someone in an army uniform in a political advertisement.

“That is wrong.”

But the official added, “He (Griffith) may get away with it because he used the word “former” in the sub-heading.

“So therefore it is an admittance that he no longer belongs to the army.”

Griffith: I’m being targeted

Contacted via his cellphone yesterday, Griffith claimed he was being “targeted” so that his campaign would be “affected.”

“I am obviously being targeted so that my campaign would be affected because they see me as the “dark horse” coming to take away the seat from the PNM,” Griffith said.

He also accused some members of the army of “holding PNM party cards” adding, “They are very petty in wanting to make that an issue.”

Stating the photo in the ad was “an old photo,” Griffith said he saw “nothing wrong” with using the photo in the political advertisement.

“That is an old photo taken several years ago while I was in the army. Why the big deal? I don’t see what the fuss is all about,” Griffith said.

— With reporting by Geisha Kowlessar

I would like to touch on the latest grasping on to straws by the Copout candidate for St. Ann's Gary Griffith.

First of all he is no Captain since being struck off the strength of the Trinidad and Tobago Regiment. Retired members of the Coast Guard and Regiment only carry their rank only when they attain the appointment of Lieutenant Commander in the Coast Guard and in the case of the Regiment Major which is way ahead of Captain, so straight away Griffith is practicing and projecting and image in so far as the Captain thing is concerned that is completely misleading. That does not surprise me in the least because really of what he represents at all levels. He has been the notorious news carrier of all times in what supposed to be a disciplined and professional establishment.


Gary Griffith was so deep into making confusion that when Brig Carl Alphonso retired Griffith was sent into exile at the residence of the PM as comptroller of household when the late Commander Noel Penco was shot, how is that for being militant, the reason for this is because Alphoso was the only one in the defense force Griffith's family could have influenced to tolerate his questionable gender tendencies from carrying news onwards.

So when I heard of his allegations of someone trying to bribe his campaign manager and the circumstances surrounding the press conference, and Ms Charlotte Peters who allegedly was the one that was offered the bribe, significantly being absent from it, I knew right away that this was one of Gary's traits form the past coming to the fore once more. When will he grow up to a man and fight manly battles, this was always a question asked about him. The essence is that he can slander anyone anywhere and the minute something doesn't go his way he runs off and tells on whoever like a little pipsqueak.


The fact and reality is that if he has such incriminating evidence why doesn't he go to the police so as to significantly hurt the UNCA. Wouldn't that be an excellent war / battle tactic or moreso victory in this battle? But no!!!!! Gary has never been and will never be interested in a clean and purposeful fight, he will continue to make confusion and hope to win favor with those who will tolerate him like Dooks. Gary says he will get a copy of telephone conversations in this matter to prove something, Well then he must tell the country or the malicious Copout supporters why he never assisted in getting these valuable pieces if information to assist in fighting crime through his security systems OH sorry he is not interested in anything or any cause except he is to benefit in one way or another also he is not interested in fighting for anything because it's customary to get it all so easy through family and friends connections.

I can go on, and on, and on, but this is already too much energy to waste on the civilian Gary Griffith who incidentally can't even properly clean his own boots.