Opposition Leader Aubrey Norton today threatened legal action if President Irfaan Ali goes ahead in appoint acting Police Commissioner, Clifton Hicken to the substantive position just before Mr. Hicken proceeds on his retirement.

In an interview with News Source today, Mr. Norton said he has already approached his Attorneys to look at the issue following the receipt of the letter from Parliamentary Minister, Gail Teixeira where he hinted to the imminent appointment of Mr. Hicken.

In her letter Ms. Teixeria informed Mr. Norton that…that “having considered your contentions, and upon weighing same against the accomplishments of the Guyana Police Force under the superintendence of Mr. Hicken, including the significant decrease in serious crimes, improved public confidence in the Force, the overall enhanced performance of the Force, and, in particular, the performance of Mr. Hicken, His Excellency has concluded that it is in the public interest and in the interest of national security that Mr. Hicken be appointed Commissioner of Police.”

But Mr. Norton said he does not intend to respond to Ms. Teixeira, and should he decide to respond, he will write the President directly to express his displeasure.

At the core, Mr. Norton said he believes that the move to confirm Mr. Hicken, is a “payback” noting the acting Commissioner has not been independent. 

“I cannot be satisfied with the performance of Hicken, more importantly, Hicken is known to be involved in politics in the sense of campaigning for the PPP especially in African Guyanese villages. How can you have a commissioner who is supposed to be independent being involved in the politics in the country,” Norton questioned.

Further, Mr. Norton said he believes that the acting Commissioner is not competent and told News Source that the recent corruption scandal that hit the Police Force was enough to send Mr. Hicken packing already.

“Everyone knows of the various corruption scandal in the Guyana Police Force and therefore to appoint Hicken, while there are all of these allegations about corruption and Hicken himself being untrustworthy, what you are in fact doing in some regard, is giving a positive sanction to what is happening in the Guyana Police Force,” Norton stated.

Mr. Norton said with everything ongoing and the fact that the Police Force has shown that it is prepared to protect government politicians, Hicken’s appointment would establish that Guyana is a lawless society where the Police Force is subject to political directions and not the rule of law.

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