The largest Opposition Party, the People’s National Congress Reform (PNCR) says the appointment of Deputy Commissioner ‘Operations’ Clifton Hicken as Commissioner of Police (acting) is unconstitutional.
Hicken has assumed the position after his predecessor, Nigel Hoppie proceeded on pre-retirement, police sources have confirmed.
The PNCR contends that Article 211 (1) of the Constitution of the Co-operative Republic of Guyana states that ‘‘the Commissioner of Police and every Deputy Commissioner of Police shall be appointed by the President acting after meaningful consultation with the Leader of the Opposition and the Chairperson of the Police Service Commission after the Chairperson has consulted with the other member of the Commission’’.
But there is no Leader of the Opposition in the National Assembly since Joseph Harmon resigned.
The PNCR said, “In the temporary absence of a Leader of the Opposition and the Police Service Commission, any appointment of Commissioner of Police or Deputy Commissioners of Police is plainly unconstitutional.”
It added, “We also wish to remind the government that the Public Service Rules clearly state that acting appointments must go to the most senior officer. Based on the current structure and line of statutory succession, Deputy Police Commissioner Paul Williams remains the next in line. Mr Clifton Hicken is an Assistant Commissioner and therefore, is junior in rank to Mr Williams.”
It noted that to promote Hicken to the rank of Deputy Commissioner of Police or to have him act in the office is a blatant violation of the Constitution, and will be challenged in a court of law.
“We hereby use this development to again call on the government to desist from the wanton politicization of the GPF. Further, we demand of the government to rescind this appointment and allow for a process of full transparency, legality, and meritocracy within the Guyana Police Force,” the party concluded.
