Gawd boy dey Guardian Newspapers in full swing wid dey news on dis "warm" Saturday. In the 2 stories, do you think they are politically motivated or just lack of communication?
BY GEISHA KOWLESSAR
ADVERTISING firm Valdez and Torry has come out in strong defence of a controversial newspaper advertisement involving a uniformed police corporal and the ruling People’s National Movement (PNM).
It insisted that T&T Police Service gave permission to shoot an ad on behalf of the PNM.
The story of the cop in a political ad was carried exclusively in the Guardian yesterday following questions raised about who authorised the policeman’s participation in the PNM promotion.
In a telephone interview yesterday, Christian Torry said his advertising company “acted above board” when putting together the ad.
The photo in the ad, Torry said, was not handed over to his company by the communications officials of the Police Service.
Rather, it was the result of “a photo shoot using an official police officer,” he said.
According to Torry, consent was given by the Communications Unit of the Police Service to shoot the ad “just outside” the Police Administration building in Port-of-Spain.
He said, “We got permission from the communications unit of the Police Service. They approved everything.
“The communications unit also supplied the policeman seen in the ad.”
Asked if the Communications Unit knew that the ad was being done on behalf of the PNM, Torry replied, “Yes, they knew. They obviously knew because we told them what the ad was about.”
Communications specialist Ann Marie Grant could not be reached yesterday and communications officer Wendy Campbell said she could not yet provide any answers to questions.
Police: No permission given
Deputy Police Commissioner Glen Roach, when contacted yesterday, maintained he was unaware about the photo being taken.
In a brief interview, Roach also dismissed claims that officials within the Police Service, particularly policemen, would approve or participate in advertisements involving political parties.
Roach again refused to identify the police corporal in the ad. The officer, therefore, could not be reached for comment. Sources said, however, the officer worked at the Police Administration building.
According to the Regulations of the T&T Police Service, no officer, being a member of the protective services, can “publish any information or expression of opinion or matters of national or international political controversy.”
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Gary Griffith as he appears in the COP press advertisement.
ON THE heels of the furore over a police corporal appearing in a PNM press advertisement, St Ann’s East candidate for the Congress of the People (COP), Gary Griffith, has found himself in hot water with the T&T Defence Force for appearing in a political ad while wearing an army uniform.
In the ad, featuring prospective COP crime-fighting heavyweights, Griffith is shown wearing an army cap and is identified as a “Captain.”
Yesterday, Chief of Defence Staff Brigadier Edmund Dillion, said Griffith, a former Army captain, had no authority to wear a Defence Force uniform and no right to have allowed the photograph to appear in the ad.
Dillon said Griffith resigned from the Defence Force and was now a civilian. He said the Defence Force did not consider Griffith a captain.
Dillon said, “He resigned and this does not allow him to use the uniform. He should know better.”
Dillon acknowled, however, the photograph of Griffith could have been an old photograph, but felt it should not be used in the promotion of a political party.
“We (the Defence Force) don’t look at that as positive at all. We don’t expect that type of behaviour even if he resigned. He is not allowed to do that,” Dillon said.
“Griffith should have known better. The army does not condone that.”
Dillon said he intended to call Griffith and ask him to address the matter.
The army chief said there were army regulations against this.
Dillon said army officers were also not allowed to enter the various army camps with political paraphernalia.
He said while soldiers can be politically aware “we cannot be politically involved.”
Contacted yesterday, Captain Al Alexander, public relations officer of the Defence Force, agreed it was “against military tradition” for Griffith to carry the title of “captain.”
“Only people carrying the rank of major and above are allowed carry their rank even after leaving the army,” he said.
“I have a serious problem with someone in an army uniform in a political advertisement.
“That is wrong.”
But the official added, “He (Griffith) may get away with it because he used the word “former” in the sub-heading.
“So therefore it is an admittance that he no longer belongs to the army.”
Griffith: I’m being targeted
Contacted via his cellphone yesterday, Griffith claimed he was being “targeted” so that his campaign would be “affected.”
“I am obviously being targeted so that my campaign would be affected because they see me as the “dark horse” coming to take away the seat from the PNM,” Griffith said.
He also accused some members of the army of “holding PNM party cards” adding, “They are very petty in wanting to make that an issue.”
Stating the photo in the ad was “an old photo,” Griffith said he saw “nothing wrong” with using the photo in the political advertisement.
“That is an old photo taken several years ago while I was in the army. Why the big deal? I don’t see what the fuss is all about,” Griffith said.
— With reporting by Geisha Kowlessar
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