Acting Commissioner of Police Clifton Hicken has charged all Heads of Departments and Branch Commanders within the Guyana Police Force (GPF) to “improve their output” by placing more emphasis on the management of resources within their control.
“As of today, you are part of the catalyst for change group. You are fortunate to be managing critical departments in the Guyana Police Force. Hence, you have to improve your output by paying more attention to the management of resources within your span of control,” Hicken said.
He was at the time addressing the ranks at a meeting held in the Commissioner’s Boardroom, Eve Leary, Georgetown on Thursday during which he outlined his strategic vision for the force.
According to a press release issued by the GPF, Hicken told the ranks that if the force is to achieve its mandate, a renewed vision is “paramount”. “I am confident that you can do much more… I will create an environment for us to achieve that,” he was quoted as saying.
He also warned the Heads of Depart-ments and Branch Commanders that the “laissez-faire” approach is not considered a suitable leadership style for the GPF and as such it will be changed immediately.
“I have spoken to you one on one and I have given some of you an opportunity to correct your mistakes. I am a gentleman and a leader, not a boss. It is my belief that cohesiveness and professionalism will help us to sustain existing structures that foster development in a holistic way,” Hicken was also quoted as saying.
The release said that Hicken further highlighted his focus, which is to improve professionalism and service to members of the public as well as to mitigate crime and disorder, increase seizure of drugs and guns, and create safe communities.
As a result, he encouraged the leaders within the force to “adopt a change” to satisfy the demands in an effort to improve service to the public.
Among the new plans underway for the force is the selection of a Sports Develop-ment Officer and the opening of an Air Wing.
According to the release, Hicken described sports as a “vehicle” that can change the outlook of the force. “If we want to bridge the gap with alacrity then it has to be done through sports to support the current initiatives,” he said.
As a result, he requested that the head of the force’s Sports Department sit with the Strategic Planning Unit and devise a concept which will see sports representatives decentralised in each policing division.
Those selected, he said, must be part of the outreach arrangements aimed at the development of youths.
Since Hicken was appointed as the country’s acting Commissioner of Police, he has held a number of meetings with various sections of the force.
On Monday, he met with Sergeants, on Tuesday with Inspectors and on Wednesday with Divisional Commanders.
Among those who were present at Thursday’s meeting were Traffic Chief, Ramesh Ashram; Officer-In-Charge of the force’s Information Technology and Com-munications branch, Jermaine Johnson; Deputy Chief Immigration Officer Dennis Stephen; Officer-In-Charge of force control, Diane Black; Manager of the Police Consumer Society Neville Cadogan; Quartermaster Donna Ferguson; Finance Officer B. Persaud; Bank Master, ASP Joseph; Sports Officer, ASP Williams; Officer-In-Charge Mounted branch and Canine section, Rockwell Delph; Head of Construction, Ramesh Singh; Head Office of Professional Responsibility, ASP E. Baird; Head of the Strategic Planning Unit Nicola Kendall; Manager of the force’s Credit Union, Palesa Peters-Fernandez; Head of Narcotics, Carl Wilson; and Head of the Special Constabulary, Owen Trotz.
