A former High Command member of the Royal Grenada Police Force (RGPF) has expressed grave concerns with recent statements made in the public domain by retired Superintendent of Police Tafawa Pierre, the former head of the Financial Intelligence Unit (FIU).
Speaking to THE NEW TODAY Wednesday morning, the retired Police Commander said it was unfortunate the allegations made by Supt Pierre, the husband of the current Leader of the Opposition and Political Leader of the main opposition New National Party (NNP), Emmalin Pierre.
In his most recent public utterances on a podcast programme, the recently retired Pierre indicated that he came under severe pressure from the Public Service Commission (PSC) and the Prime Minister Dickon Mitchell to exit from the Police Force.
Pierre referred to an exchange he had with the Commission, led by female attorney-at-law Debra St Bernard and information that Prime Minister and Minister of National Security Dickon Mitchel had no confidence in him.
According to the ex-RGPF High Command Member, he listened to the Podcast and formed the impression that Supt Pierre was trying to give the public the impression that “somebody chased him without nothing (financial package) and that is a big lie.”
He spoke of speaking with a member of the PSC and was told that no one gave him any ultimatum to leave the Police Force.
“He (Tafawa) went and prepared his application for his retirement and it was approved. He is talking like a man who gone without nothing,”
According to the retired police high command member, Supt Pierre should be mindful of the fact that under the former NNP regime of Keith Mitchell, he would have left the force without retirement benefits.
“He (Tafawa) wouldn’t get anything under Keith (Mitchell) because he did not qualify for retirement with benefits – he joined the force after 1983. Thank God for (PM) Dickon (Mitchell) he could go with his benefits. He’s ungrateful and dishonest,” said the ex-cop.
The former high-ranking member of the Police Force questioned the motive behind Supt Pierre’s verbal attack on the current Grenadian Leader who never had any engagement with him.
“Why is he blaming Dickon Mitchell – Dickon never tell him anything – it is his (Tafawa Pierre) circumstances that have him where he is.
The former top RGPF member said he checked with officials within the Ministry of National Security and was assured that PM Dickon Mitchell never held any discussions with Supt Pierre on the issue of his retirement from the Police Force.
He pointed out that as one-time head of the FIU, Supt Pierre knows better than most people on the island the meaning of the term being “politically-exposed” in light of his relationship with Emmalin Pierre, the former Education Minister.
He noted that the term is embedded deep in the FIU law dealing with “Prevention of Crime” and Supt Pierre would know that he is “politically exposed” because of his association with the Leader of the Opposition.
THE NEW TODAY recalls that several years ago the PSC overlooked the wife of a former Prime Minister for the position of Chief Personnel Officer in the Commission given her relationship with the then leader of the country at the time.
Eyebrows were raised in December 2024 when Supt Pierre was spotted walking in the Town of Grenville during the Christmas period along with his wife, and Keith Mitchell who were engaged in a “meet and greet” political activity on behalf of the NNP.
Some political pundits stated that this kind of engagement should not be conducted by a public officer as opposed to Supt Pierre accompanying his wife on the occasion of an official event staged by the State.