The country's legal body said Gary Griffith was reckless when he told a British reporter that all countries have corrupt members of the police and judiciary. And it asked whether Griffith could back up his statement with any evidence.
Griffith issued a counter statement of his own on Sunday in which he explained that the reporter, Seyi Rhodes, asked why government has not gone after the so called 'big fish' during the on-going state of emergency.
He said his response was to show that a state of emergency is not designed to deal with such aspects, "as it involves primarily crime prevention such as hard-targeting, patrols and deterrents".
He added that the reporter's point dealt with "tertiary crime prevention, which involves the criminal justice system."
Griffith said the point he made was that such reports and accusations of corruption have been known worldwide, "as every country would be involved from time to time, with allegations of such matters, including the involvement of politicians, law enforcement officers and even the judiciary."
He said he told the reporter such matters would not be dealt with during a state of emergency. He said he did not wish to make any direct inference to include Trinidad and Tobago's Judiciary.
He emphasized that he did not mean to state or imply that the country's Judiciary "has been the cause, is responsible, or is involved in any manner, in criminal activity," especially as he had no knowledge of such.
Griffith added that "if any such perception or view was derived from his statement, he humbly apologises, as he holds the judicial system in the highest honour."
He said his response was to show that a state of emergency is not designed to deal with such aspects, "as it involves primarily crime prevention such as hard-targeting, patrols and deterrents".
He added that the reporter's point dealt with "tertiary crime prevention, which involves the criminal justice system."
Griffith said the point he made was that such reports and accusations of corruption have been known worldwide, "as every country would be involved from time to time, with allegations of such matters, including the involvement of politicians, law enforcement officers and even the judiciary."
He said he told the reporter such matters would not be dealt with during a state of emergency. He said he did not wish to make any direct inference to include Trinidad and Tobago's Judiciary.
He emphasized that he did not mean to state or imply that the country's Judiciary "has been the cause, is responsible, or is involved in any manner, in criminal activity," especially as he had no knowledge of such.
Griffith added that "if any such perception or view was derived from his statement, he humbly apologises, as he holds the judicial system in the highest honour."
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