-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.
