ABOVE BOARD – Police Force denies spying accusations

Describing law enforcement officers as above reproach and political games, the Royal Grenada Police Force (RGPF) has denied accusations of illegally spying at two meetings of support groups of the National Democratic Congress (NDC).

During a recent news conference, senior officials of the NDC said that members of the Special Branch in the Force attended two meetings “uninvited and unannounced” and proceeded to record the sessions without permission.

“The RGPF cannot and will not support this accusation and regrets that senior executive members of the NDC would classify the following two incidents as spying,” said a statement from the police, which explained why the police officers were present at the meeting.

On Wednesday, May 8, 2013, a police officer heard an advertisement of a public meeting to be held at the Grand Anse R.C. School, to discuss Youth and Disaster Preparedness and attended the meeting in plain clothes. “At the conclusion of the meeting, he was seen by some senior members of the NDC, who knew him very well and who made some remarks to his hearing,” said the police statement.

Explaining the second in-cident, the RGPF said that on Thursday, May 9, 2013, one of their plain-clothes officers was in the Grenville area on duty when he observed a crowd of persons standing in the yard of the St. Andrew’s Anglican School. “In an effort to ascertain what the gathering was about, the officer walked into the yard and while there saw some persons entering the school building,” said the statement, which added that the officer was seen by Glen Noel in the school, who again began casting some remarks.

Cognisant of what was taking place inside the building, the officer immediately left.

“Our Police Force is above reproach and political games. The RGPF is a completely independent institution and its officers will continue to work diligently to ensure that there is no weak link in our security and that no one will allow himself or herself to be used by any politician,” said the statement from the Community Relations Department of the Force.

“We pledge that wholeheartedly and believe that this is consistent with the message conveyed to us by the new Prime Minister in a recent town hall meeting with the Police Force in Carriacou.

“The RGPF remains committed to the preservation of law and order and efficiency in the execution of its duty to our country,” the statement assured. (LS)