A former High Command Member of the Royal Grenada Police Force (RGPF) has faulted retired Superintendent of Police Tafawa Pierre for allegedly secretly taping an encounter with the Public Service Commission (PSC) and leaking it to a Podcaster for broadcasting.
According to the ex-police officer, Supt Pierre could have taped the meeting in order to protect himself but had no right to give another person to put it into the public domain.
He said that the former head of the Financial Intelligence Unit (FIU) could be charged for a breach of the Electronic Crimes act.
Pierre is the husband of current Member of Parliament for the rural St Andrew South-east seat, Emmalin Pierre who is the Opposition Leader in Parliament and head of the New National Party (NNP).
He was summoned by the Public Service Commission (PSC) for a meeting in light of the fact that he was considered “a politically-exposed” person due to his marital status.
Speculation is rife that the Commission members hold the view that the minute Pierre’s wife became Opposition Leader in Parliament that he should have been prepared to offer his resignation from RGPF.
Pierre has taken to several local media outlets to accuse the PSC, headed by attorney-at-law Debra St Bernard of forcing him out of the force.
However, PSC insiders have denied the claim stating that the former Police Superintendent submitted his own retirement letter and his financial figures believed to be over EC$500, 000.00 for his years of service in the public service.
THE NEW TODAY understands that prior to summoning Pierre for the meeting with the Commission, the members had reviewed several photos of the now retired senior police officer while still a member of the Police Force engaged in a political activity being conducted by his wife and former Prime Minister Keith Mitchell during the 2024 Christmas period in the Grenville, St Andrew area.
The ex-High Command member charged that strictly speaking, Supt Pierre committed an offense to record the proceedings without the knowledge of the members of the PSC.
However, he said the officer could have done the recording of the conversation “for his protection” but pointed out that “two wrongs cannot make a right.”
“He recorded it for his protection, he should only release it when something occurs, when there was some denial, when there was something that he had to prove. He ain’t have nothing to prove yet and that’s the brunt of the matter.”
The former High Command Member went on to say: “In Grenada it is generally unlawful to record a private meeting or conversation without the consent of at least one of the parties involved.
He added that in a public service context “it is often required to have the consent of all parties or explicit authorisation (of the other parties)”.
“You could record it – it is not here or there. If he feels threatened or victimised, it is his responsibility to record to protect himself.”
“So he took it to protect his integrity but publishing it is the offence. He should have waited for something to happen and then released it. These things should only be used in court for your protection.”
“You commit an offence by doing it so you should only use it to protect yourself – that alone. He ain’t have no right to go and publish it.”
According to the ex-High Command Member, retired Supt Pierre has opened himself to certain legal penalties because unlawful recording of communication can be a criminal offence potentially punishable by fines or imprisonment under the Electronic Crimes act or the Data Protection Bill.
He said the rules are clear that a person cannot simply record a meeting of the Grenada Public Service Commission without consent or lawful authority.
He added that Grenada law on privacy and electronic crimes will prohibit such an action as done by Supt Pierre “unless it is to protect your integrity – that is the only way you could do that.”