GEORGETOWN, Guyana, CMC – Opposition Leader Aubrey Norton Friday said he fears for the safety of the embattled Assistant Commissioner of Police, Calvin Brutus, after Vice President Bharrat Jagdeo challenged him to disclose whatever secrets or information he may have on the Guyana government.
Jagdeo, speaking at his weekly news conference on Thursday, reported there has been no political interference in the investigation of Brutus, who was released on GUY$6.2 million (One Guyana dollar=US$0.004 cents) bail after he was slapped with 30 financial crime charges for transactions totaling GUY$376.2 million. In contrast, his wife was charged with two counts of money laundering for allegedly having GUY$243.3 million in the account of her business, South Quata, between December 1, 2023, and July 1, 2024, and GUY$108.6 million in a “Triple ‘A’ Depot business account.
“There was no political interference or cover-up of the matter. But APNU(A Partnerships for National Unity) would not believe that you could have a government that will do an impartial investigation,” Jagdeo told reporters.
When questioned about concerns that Brutus may implicate public officials in wrongdoing and possible crimes, he said the government would not shy away from defending itself.
“We have no fear in whatever he wants to say. We will deal with it later and at the appropriate time, but do you see us worried about this,” said Jagdeo.
Brutus is facing more than 240 charges linked to money laundering, corruption, and other financial crimes. He has maintained his innocence.
Outside of the criminal charges, he has filed an action in the High Court against the Government, the Guyana Police Force, and the Police Service Commission over the investigations conducted against him. He said the investigations were tainted by political interference and other issues.
On Friday, the Office of the Attorney General circulated a High Court document indicating that Brutus “wholly discontinues and withdraws” the proceedings against the respondents.
Norton told reporters that he was worried about the safety of the senior top cop after viewing statements from government officials in the past few days.
“I worry for Brutus because whether it is true or not, he should have his day in court and be able to defend himself. But knowing the PPP (ruling People’s Progressive Party), they have a history of [being] involved in executing people like that,” Norton told reporters.
He said there may also be attempts to quietly cover up and end the allegations of corruption against Brutus and the Police to avoid further exposure of corruption within the system.
“I believe all of this thing with Brutus is a front, and they will quietly work out how they will get Brutus out of this and withdraw because I don’t think Bharrat Jagdeo and the PPP could afford to have Brutus and senior policemen talking about drugs in the North West and about all of the illegalities that are occurring,” the Opposition Leader said.
Norton said that, like the PPP, he believes the GPF is corrupt, unprofessional, and complicit in crime and corruption. It would be of no surprise to him if it was discovered that other senior police officials and even government ministers are implicated in the corruption ring linked to the GPF.
“I do not doubt that it involves sitting ministers – senior and junior. Undoubtedly, it involves top ranks in the Guyana Police Force. That seems very obvious. That is why I said his life is probably in danger,” Norton said, adding for those and other reasons, he cannot support the proposed appointment of Clifton Hicken as the substantive Commissioner of Police.
Hicken, currently acting as Police Commissioner, is alleged to have permitted Brutus to engage in commercial activities. Norton said if this is the case, Hicken should also step down from the post.
Opposition legislator Ganesh Mahipaul questioned the silence of the acting Police Commissioner on the matter.
“His silence in all that is unfolding right now in the Guyana Police Force surrounding the Brutus matter is deafening, and I am finding it difficult as a citizen of this country to even think of supporting his confirmation on the mere fact that he remains silent on all that is happening.
“At the end of the day, he is sitting in that office as the top cop acting, and here you have a situation where we saw the SWAT team descending at the home of Mr. Brutus in the Guyana Police Force compound, and the top cop seems not to be aware, or he has not said anything,” Mahipaul said.
The Opposition also wants an independent international organization to launch a more comprehensive investigation into suspected acts of corruption within the force.
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