The Alliance for Change today called for the Acting Commissioner of Police, Clifton Hicken and other senior ranks under his command to proceed on leave, amid growing allegations of corruption including financial impropriety and possible cases of money laundering. 

Hicken, who reached the retirement age since last year, had his tenure as Acting Commissioner of Police extended by President Irfaan Ali last July. Today, AFC Executive and Member of Parliament, Khemraj Ramjattan said now might be a very good time for Hicken to retire.

“There is ground, sufficient here for the retirement, because you also want him to go on leave, pending the investigations, and also because of the fact that he has reached the age. You suffer the Deputies that ought to arise when you extend the life, and I have been in public with this for over 20 years,” Ramjattan said. 

Already, Assistant Police Commissioner, Calvin Brutus has proceeded on leave in wake of the allegations of financial impropriety that have been leveled against him. 

Ramjattan – a former Minister of Public Security –   said the Guyana Police Force should be a bastion of the best and brightest, but now it finds itself facing corruption allegations of its own at the very top.

“It seems, with all the allegations being hurled around, and the documents to support them in the social media from whistle blowers, that the top posts of the GPF are highly coveted not because of a desire to serve and protect but because these top posts open doors to extraordinary power and riches. What is worse is that the PPP Government wants it that way all the same,” the AFC Executive said. 

He said instead of seeking to launder money through the Guyana Police Force’s Credit Union or secure contracts for personal greed, those at the top must direct their minds on how to combat crime in the country. 

He said given the prevailing situation, those suspected to be involved in acts of corruption should be sent on leave to allow for an independent investigation into the allegations leveled against them. 

“In view of these appalling, disgraceful developments in the Guyana Police Force, the AFC urges Government to immediately have an independent, top-quality investigation be done: as to what happened, how come so much monies have gotten into the hands of these officers, and how were the contracts awarded. Those suspected to be involved must all be asked to go on leave, least they interfere and pervert the investigation,” Ramjattan said. 

Home Affairs Minister, Robeson Benn recently expressed his deep concern over allegations of procurement fraud within the Police Force.

There are a number of calls for an independent probe to be conducted into allegations of corruption in the Police Force.

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