Though the Constitution requires consultation between the President and Leader of the Opposition before a person is appointed to act as Commissioner of Police, government is maintaining that the appointment of Clifton Hicken to so act without the required consultation, was done out of necessity on grounds of national security, there being no Opposition Leader at the time and among other things, Hicken’s “experience” and “qualification.”
This continues to be government’s position as is expressed in the defending affidavit of Minister of Home Affairs Robeson Benn on behalf of Hicken and the Attorney General (AG) against whom the Opposition is challenging the appointment.