The Opposition APNU+AFC intends to move to the Court next week to challenge the decision of the President to extend the tenure of Acting Police Commissioner Clifton Hicken.

Opposition Leader, Aubrey Norton told the media today that the move by the President is unconstitutional and therefore the Opposition will move to the Courts to oust Mr. Hicken.

“We have already prepared the case and it will be filed sometime next week. We are challenging the extension of the acting Commissioner of Police by the President. As we understand the law, if he was a substantive Commissioner then the law would have provided for it, but since he has been acting for a long time, he is not entitled,” the Opposition Leader said.

The Opposition has long made clear that it would not support Mr. Hicken’s appointment as Commissioner of Police and even went to Court to Challenge his appointment.

The Constitution of Guyana mandates the President to hold constructive engagements with the Opposition Leader and the Chairman of the Police Service Commission on the appointment of a substantive Commissioner of Police.

Mr. Hicken has been Acting as the Country’s Top Cop since March 2022 and recently reached the retirement age of 55-years-old.

Last week, the President announced his decision to extend the tenure of Mr. Hicken as the acting Police Commissioner.

‘The President is being unfair to the many service men and women in the Police Force. By extending Hicken’s tenure, he is shortchanging the line of succession in terms of people being promoted and that is a demoralization,” Opposition Member of Parliament Ganesh Mahipaul said.

Meanwhile, the Opposition Leader also added his voice to scathing report submitted last week by the Police Complaints Authority Chair, Justice William Ramlall to the National Assembly.

In part, Justice Ramlall, accused Mr. Hicken of flouting the PCA’s Act and the laws of Guyana by not having the Force submit reports for him to investigate incidents involving Police Officers.

The Opposition believes the Government and the President must be held responsible for Mr. Hicken’s actions.

“And therefore, I think that the police force is in crisis because it does not have Credible leadership and I think it will continue like this—the legal challenge is made we believe it will succeed and we hope after that there is a proper process to have a Police Commissioner that is both certified and qualified,” Mr. Norton said.

Hicken was appointed as Acting Police Commissioner following the retirement of Deputy Police Commissioner Nigel Hoppie, who acted in the position.

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