Hughes wants full and impartial investigation of both the Acting Police Commissioner and Acting Assistant Commissioner Brutus

Leader of the Alliance for Change (AFC) Nigel Hughes, today called for a full, thorough and impartial investigation into the top brass of the Guyana Police Force, particularly Assistant Commissioner Calvin Brutus and Commissioner of Police (ag) Clifton Hicken.

During a press conference today, Hughes said recent allegations against Assistant Commissioner Brutus warrants a full investigation. He said even more worrisome than than the allegations, was the attempt by the Acting Commissioner of Police to deflect attention from the issue by saying it was untrue.

Hughes said these recent events can dent the morale of the Police Force.

The AFC Leader said if the government is serious about having a clean Police Force, it must call in independent investigators, preferably investigators from a Police Force in the Caribbean to conduct the probe.

“Any investigation has to be conducted outside of the Guyana Police Force. The Guyana Police Force cannot investigate itself especially at the level of the Commissioner and Deputy Commissioner, where you’ve actually had from the Commissioner statements intended to cover for the deputy, so this has to be conducted by an external agency,” Hughes told the media.

He said Guyana is seeking to portray itself as a modern rapidly developing country and therefore confidence in law is the biggest requirement, not just for citizens in Guyana but investors.

“And imagine saying to any person or investigator that there are allegations against the second highest police officer and there is an accusation that the highest-ranking police officer attempted to deflect an investigation or inquiry and then those two officers were conducted by the Police force. So, I think we have to start off with the question of perception,” Mr. Hughes stated.

Mr. Hughes said it cannot be business as usual, when those sitting at the highest level of the country’s security sector are embroiled in controversy. Therefore, he noted, his party will be mounting pressure to have the issue properly ventilated.

“In the circumstances, the least the people of Guyana expect and deserve is that an external agency conduct that investigation. So, the fact that they might have started at the OPR is of no comfort to anyone,” Hughes stated.

The Assistant Police Commissioner, Calvin Brutus, proceeded on vacation leave yesterday after his request was granted for his annualized leave to allow for a full probe of the allegations of financial impropriety that have been leveled against him.