Gary Griffith Launches Scathing Attack on Phillip Alexander
Former Commissioner of Police Gary Griffith has launched a sharp verbal attack on government minister Phillip Alexander, accusing him of being fixated on him and arguing that Alexander’s conduct is ultimately benefiting the opposition PNM.
Griffith made the comments during an appearance on the YouTube programme Constructive Talks, where the discussion turned to the ongoing public exchanges between the two men.
During the conversation, the host suggested that Alexander may now be occupied with government responsibilities, including work involving HDC housing, and therefore might have less time to focus on Griffith.
Griffith disagreed, jokingly describing Alexander’s continued attention toward him as “tabanca,” a Trinidad and Tobago expression commonly associated with intense longing or heartbreak. In this instance, Griffith used the term mockingly to suggest that Alexander was obsessed with him.
“No, no, he can’t. It’s what they call tabanca, where it is that a man is so obsessed with another man that every single day he has to do a press release,” Griffith said.
Griffith claimed Alexander had already made two public statements involving him that day and questioned why a government minister would devote so much attention to him.
“When you have a government minister getting paid over $50,000 and all he has to do is to speak about Gary Griffith every day,” Griffith said.
The former police commissioner continued his attack by questioning why Alexander repeatedly mentioned him publicly before turning to the political consequences of Alexander’s conduct.
Griffith argued that rather than damaging his political opponents, Alexander was helping the opposition People’s National Movement.
“Phillip Alexander will undoubtedly become the biggest—and he is the biggest—asset to the PNM,” Griffith declared.
He added that PNM supporters should “pray every day that he remains in government,” claiming Alexander would continue to be one of the opposition’s greatest political assets.
Griffith then intensified his criticism, accusing Alexander of being consumed by “hate” and “bitterness” and questioning whether his public interventions were productive or positive.
The discussion subsequently became more personal when Griffith made allegations concerning Alexander and child-maintenance matters. Griffith used those claims to question what he considered the ethical and moral standards expected of someone holding ministerial office.
Those personal allegations were made by Griffith during the Constructive Talks interview and should be treated as his assertions unless independently established through official records or other reliable evidence.
Griffith argued that ethics, morals, principles and the fulfilment of personal obligations should form part of the character expected of a government minister.
The remarks demonstrate the increasingly hostile nature of the public dispute between Griffith and Alexander, with Griffith moving beyond criticism of Alexander’s political performance to strongly worded criticism of his character and conduct.
At the centre of Griffith’s argument was his contention that Alexander’s repeated public focus on him is politically counterproductive and could ultimately strengthen the PNM.
