-gov’t expected to go ahead
By Khadidja Ba
Opposition Leader Aubrey Norton has rejected a proposal by President Irfaan Ali that acting Commissioner of Police Clifton Hicken be substantively appointed to that position.
In a September 17th letter to Ali following a September 4th letter from Minister of Parliamentary Affairs Gail Teixeira making the proposal, Norton listed a series of reasons why Hicken should not be considered for the position of Top Cop.
Article 211 (1) of the Constitution stipulates that the Commissioner shall be appointed by the President after “meaningful consultation” with the Leader of the Opposition. The agreement of the Opposition Leader is not needed which means that the government may still go ahead and appoint Hicken to the post.
The letter delivered to Norton by the Minister of Parliamentary Affairs and Governance outlined the President’s intention to finalize a decision on Hicken’s appointment by October 4, 2024. She therefore requested a response from Norton by September 18, 2024. There was no word from the government yesterday on the appointment.
Norton expressed his dissatisfaction with the consultation process, stating that the exchange of letters does not constitute meaningful dialogue. He said in his response letter dated September 17th, 2024 “I cannot support the appointment of a Commissioner of Police at this stage. Several allegations have been leveled against Mr. Hicken over the years”. He urged a full investigation into Hicken’s conduct and the management of the Guyana Police Force.
Speaking to Stabroek News yesterday, Norton stated “There were no consultations between President Ali and I…We do not believe that there should be any talking about appointing a Commissioner of Police amidst all these allegations of corruption within the Guyana Police Force. Guyanese do not have any faith in the Force, so I don’t know which cloud Ali is living on, whether it be cloud 9, 10 or 11 to be saying that Guyanese have faith in the Force. Crime has skyrocketed under Hicken, they seem to only be measuring the rising and falling of crime based on rapes and murders, but should drug busts etcetera be included, the numbers will show that it has skyrocketed.”
In his letter to Ali, Norton cited serious allegations against Hicken, including his testimony during the 2012 Linden Commission of Inquiry and negligence in the investigation surrounding the alleged assassination plot against former President David Granger in 2017. He said that it was then recommended that Hicken be relieved from that post, thereby raising concerns about his impartiality, accountability and credibility.
He also referenced a troubling pattern of complaints since Hicken’s appointment as acting Commissioner in 2022, highlighting that the Police Office of Professional Responsibility received 197 complaints that year, with police negligence being the most common issue.
Norton also pointed to various controversies under Hicken’s command, including the extrajudicial killing of Quindon Bacchus and ongoing calls for an independent investigation into financial improprieties within the police force.
“Having stated the abovementioned, I look forward to continued dialogue on the search for a best-fitted person for the chair of Commissioner of Police”, Norton said.
A separate letter from Teixeira to Norton included recommendations for Deputy Commissioners of Police, as required under the same constitutional provision. The proposed candidates are:
1. Ravindradat Budhram – Deputy Commissioner Administration (ag)
2. Wendell Blanhum – Deputy Commissioner, Law Enforcement (ag)
3. Errol Watts – Deputy Commissioner Operations (ag)
4. Fazil Karimbaksh – Head, Special Organised Crime Unit
5. Simon McBean – Regional Division Commander #4A
The curricula vitae for these candidates were also enclosed, with the President intending to make decisions regarding these appointments by October 4, 2024.
Member of Parliament Ganesh Mahipaul said yesterday that the Opposition is considering legal action to contest the process, believing their right to adequate consultation has been compromised. Norton confirmed this with SN “we have asked our lawyers to look at it”. Teixeira’s letter emphasized Hicken’s extensive qualifications, including a Master’s Degree in Human Resources Management obtained in 2023 and various professional development courses in law enforcement.
Teixeira also sent a letter to Norton addressing his concerns on October 2,2024. She stated, “Your decision not to support the appointment of Mr. Clifton Hicken as Commissioner of Police is unfortunate”. She argued that many of the allegations against Hicken are unsubstantiated. Teixeira emphasized that the President had carefully considered Norton’s claims and noted that none of the allegations had been raised when Hicken was appointed to act as Commissioner in the first place.
Teixeira refuted specific claims made by Norton, stating that the Linden Commission of Inquiry found no evidence implicating Hicken in improper conduct. She also highlighted that allegations of financial improprieties had been investigated by relevant agencies and that many incidents occurred before Hicken took on his current role.
The letter concluded with Teixeira affirming that, given the accomplishments of the Guyana Police Force under Hicken’s leadership, including a significant decrease in serious crimes, the President believes it is in the public interest to proceed with Hicken’s appointment as Commissioner of Police.
At the top of his CV under the title `Objectives’, Hicken said “I am a proactive worker who is highly motivated and prepared to work to augment my budding qualifications and experiences in areas where I can excel in every prospect, and where opportunities exist. I seek to challenge competitive responsibilities to augment my aptitude to maximise surplus development in my country and in the organization where I operate and to actualize personal and professional goals”.
In August 2022, Acting Chief Justice Roxane George SC ruled that Hicken was lawfully appointed by President Ali to act as Commissioner of Police. The judge found that, in the absence of an Opposition Leader at that time, the President could not be faulted for making the appointment. Hicken’s appointment was initially challenged by the main opposition party, APNU+AFC, which argued that Ali failed to consult Norton as required by the Constitution.
