GEORGETOWN, Guyana– The opposition People’s National Congress Reform (PNCR) says it will mount a legal challenge against Assistant Police Commissioner Clifton Hicken as acting Police Commissioner.
In a statement, the PNCR said that the appointment announced by President Dr. Irfaan Ali on Monday was illegal and amounted to the “wanton politicization” of the police force.
Clifton Hicken, whose appointment as acting Police Commissioner is being challenged.
“The Party, therefore, would like to use this opportunity to remind the government of Article 211 (1) of the Constitution of the Co-operative Republic of Guyana, which 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’’, the PNC said.
Late Monday, a brief government statement noted that President Ali, who is also Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, had appointed Hicken to act in the Office of the Commissioner of Police, adding that the appointment takes effect from Wednesday, March 30.
But the PNCR said that 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 unconstitutional.
“To promote Mr. 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,” the PNCR said.
The PNCR, the major party in the opposition coalition, recently appointed Aubrey Norton, its leader, and became a parliamentarian after March 31 this year.
Several Service Commissions, Police Commissioner, Chancellor, and Chief Justice, could be appointed only after consultation between the President and the Opposition Leader.
The opposition party also argues 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.
According to the PNC, 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 use this development again to call on the government to desist from the wanton politicization of the GPF. Further, we demand the government to rescind this appointment and allow for a process of full transparency, legality, and meritocracy within the Guyana Police Force”, the PNC said.
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