FORMER commissioner of police and political leader of the National Transformation Alliance (NTA) Gary Griffith has announced his resignation from the party's leadership. In a phone interview with Newsday on May 8, Griffith said he did not know what the future held but added he would continue to serve Trinidad and Tobago.
“I have resigned, but there should be no major concern. This is not surprising: that's just how I am. I've been a team player throughout my life. And as a team player, when you're not successful in your mission, the honourable thing to do is step down and allow others to take the lead.”
Griffith expressed hope his departure would give the NTA an opportunity to grow and evolve. He said no political party, organisation, or team should be built around a single individual, as it would undermine the spirit of teamwork.
“There’s hope the NTA can move forward with new blood and new leadership that can drive the party forward.”
Reflecting on the outcome of the April 28 elections, Griffith acknowledged the long-standing struggle of third parties in TT, saying the electorate did not appear to support alternatives to the dominant parties.
“For the last four decades, third parties have tried and failed. About 550,000 of fewer than 600,000 voters chose the two major parties. It seems that’s not going to change.”
He attributed much of this to the country’s electoral system, criticising the lack of proportional representation, which he believed hinders third-party success. Griffith also addressed the perception that third parties existed only to split votes or support the UNC, saying that was a false narrative.
Turning his attention to the UNC, Griffith extended well wishes to its political leader, Kamla Persad-Bissessar, and her team.
“There was never any hatred, bitterness, or animosity. Everybody loves Gary and the NTA. When it comes to voting, there’s always that concern: ‘If I vote for you, will it help the other side win?’ And people ended up returning to their traditional bases, which is their right.”
He described both the PNM and the UNC as “great parties,” adding, “It seems everybody doesn’t want me to leave Gotham City. They just want me to protect it.”
Despite stepping away from politics, Griffith reaffirmed his commitment to national service, saying he was willing to assist the current administration, at no cost, in the fight against crime. He stressed his priority remained the success of the country, regardless of political affiliation.
Griffith recounted his contributions to national-security strategy, saying he was the original architect behind the conceptual frameworks for the ministries of defence, justice, and home affairs.
Those proposals, he said, were draughted in the lead-up to the 2010 general election, during which then-Opposition Leader Persad-Bissessar adopted some of his recommendations.
Of the three proposed ministries, only the ministry of justice was implemented at the time, but Griffith said it failed to fulfil its goals because the minister deviated from
