In its Friday 30th edition, THE NEW TODAY carried a story involving Emmalin Pierre, captioned ‘’Emmalin Pierre attacks RGPF.’’
As I read the story, I realised that it is an old attack on the men and women who are paid to ensure our people’s safety and our country’s security. In their search for talking points, politicians have tried to use the Royal Grenada Police Force as their toy, knowing that the force’s officers will not respond to their diatribes.
Emmalin’s attack on the RGPF was unfortunate and shameful. For someone vying to become this country’s leader and who has served at various levels of government, Emmalin’s attack on the RGPF reflects her ignorance of its functions and the role of the Special Branch in particular.
However, her attack also indicates that she has a personal vendetta against certain officers of the RGPF. It will be interesting to find out what the matter is about. For her edification, I will try to educate the goodly lady on the role of the Special Branch. If things go wrong, Emmalin may become the Prime Minister and be responsible for National Security. Oh, but she may give that responsibility to her husband.
I served within the RGPF for over thirty years in various capacities. I know that, for the most part, the RGPF officers have laid their lives on the line to protect and serve, but they have been reviled and ridiculed by many.
Emmalin must know that if she becomes the Prime Minister (God forbid), the RGPF officers she seems to hate now will risk their lives to protect her.
While in the RGPF, I have seen how politics and politicians have divided and ruled the force. Every moment of service was risky but worth it. Every engagement was aimed at one thing – the security of our nation – and the Special Branch played an essential role in the whole scheme of things.
Emmalin Pierre should know that the Special Branch is responsible for monitoring all the events in the country, be it political, social, industrial, or criminal.
The Special Branch is also responsible for monitoring the conduct of officers within the ranks of the police force. Monitoring political meetings is nothing new. This is an integral part of the functions of the Special Branch. So, Emmalin’s rants were only noise and reflected someone who was fishing around for talking points.
There is nothing special about Emmalin; SB is not preoccupied with her. Instead, SB is interested in the well-being of the country. Besides, the meeting Emmalin addressed was open to the public.
If Emmalin was honest, she would tell the public that while serving under Keith Mitchell, the Special Branch monitored every political meeting. Who could forget the infamous “Who sent you?” This happened when the Special Branch tried to infiltrate a closed door meeting of the NDC during the NNP reign. Where was Emmalin?
Emmalin’s husband, who rose to the rank of Superintendent, should let her know there is nothing sinister about covering a political meeting. This is routine police work. If he is honest, her husband would tell her that SB monitored every activity, while he served at the highest level, even the ‘’pump it up’’ march.
Instead of focusing on the police presence at a public meeting and making it a focal point of discussion, Emmalin should apologise for the country’s mismanagement under her government. She should ask the police officers to forgive her and her bunch for failing to settle their pay and grade matters. She should tell the officers why they left all the police stations in disrepair. She should thank the officers for keeping the country safe while they worked under less-than-favourable conditions.
With more than two years before the next general elections, the NNP has not been able to give the public any reason why they should be voted back into office. They have no plan, which is evident in their utterances at the public meetings – empty words.
Their public meetings are reminiscent of their campaign in the last election cycle; they lack substance. Emmalin’s latest tirade regarding the force disqualified her as a suitable candidate to lead the country. She would do well to stick to issues.
Emmalin and NNP do not have much to talk about. Her shameful ascension to the helm of the NNP has not created the public stir she hoped for. At this early stage, she is clearly in a panic mode. But she had better be careful and stick to issues because she may have skeletons in her closet that the Special Branch may expose.
Don’t go there, Emmalin!
Retired Senior Officer