Former national security minister Gary Griffith plans to filed a report with the police concerning an alleged meeting with advertising agency head Ernie Ross at Ross Advertising on the Police Complaints Authority (PCA) director David West issue, for the police to determine if any criminal matter occurred. Griffith confirmed that to the T&T Guardian yesterday.
The situation has further compounded the issue, which centres on West’s complaint to police concerning alleged witness-tampering by former Attorney General Anand Ramlogan in a defamation matter in which Opposition Leader Dr Keith Rowley is involved. Government last week denied pressuring Griffith to withdraw witness statements in West’s complaint.
Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar removed both Ramlogan and Griffith from the Cabinet on Monday after police started a criminal probe of West’s allegations. West gave police a statement last week when he reported the matter to acting Police Commissioner Stephen Williams. Ramlogan has not yet given any statement to the police, it was confirmed yesterday.
Yesterday, Griffith said he has already submitted two statements to the police on the witness-tampering allegations. He said he would submit a statement on a third matter, the Ross issue, today. Communication Minister Vasant Bharath has denied Griffith’s claim that he had met with Ross, Griffith and Griffith’s wife, Nicole, concerning West’s allegations. Bharath said he was at Ross’ on a regular basis but didn’t attend any meeting as Griffith described.
Acting Police Commissioner Williams told the T&T Guardian yesterday that during the course of an interview by police recently, Griffith lodged the report. He said Deputy Police Commissioner Harold Phillips, who is assigned to handle the entire West issue, is now “effectively addressing the matter.”
Ross advertising responds
Yesterday, Ross Advertising issued a statement on the issue, saying there had been several inaccurate reports by the media and statements by Griffith on the alleged meeting between the head of Ross Advertising, Griffith and Mrs Griffith on January 29 at Ross’ offices.
The statement said there was never any meeting between Bharath, Griffith, Mrs Griffith and Ross. It noted, however, that there was a meeting between Griffith, Mrs Griffith and Ross at the premises but said Bharath was never part of the meeting at any time. Ross, the statement said, convened the meeting as media adviser to Griffith, noting Ross had done several advertising campaigns on the National Security Ministry’s behalf.
The company added: “As is proper form, the former minister (Griffith) and his wife were both advised at the onset and during the session that the discussions were entirely in their interest and there was no attempt to change the veracity of statements.
“At all times the purpose of the meeting was to best prepare the minister for scrutiny of the media, public and Opposition party.
“It is an informal role which Mr Ross has conducted with Minister Griffith as well as many other members of the Cabinet on numerous occasions, via phone, meetings, e-mail and text messages as issues arise.” The company said it has been conducting media management exercises for over 20 years regionally with a successful record.
PM wants inquiry
Meanwhile, Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar has forwarded a request to President Anthony Carmona for an independent enquiry into the circumstances involved in the Ramlogan/Griffith/Rowley/West matter, which was sparked by a defamation suit in the Section 34 matter filed by Ramlogan against Rowley, following West’s allegations. A letter to this effect was dispatched along with statements the PM received from Ramlogan and Griffith.
In removing Ramlogan and Griffith from office on Monday, the PM had expressed concern that West had not informed either the President or her of his allegations that he had been approached by Ramlogan to withdraw a witness statement in the defamation matter involving Rowley. West’s statement was done for Rowley’s side. The PM questioned why West had waited until now to reveal his allegations.
She also expressed concern on various aspects of Rowley’s position, including whether he had known of the issue when he was consulted on West’s appointment. She said if that was the case, Rowley should also have informed the President. The PM said West’s position as PCA director was compromised because of the current situation and he should immediately resign or his appointment should be revoked.
West didn’t answer calls yesterday on whether he would resign.