One day after Vice President Bharrat Jagdeo challenged embattled Assistant Commissioner of Police, Calvin Brutus to disclose whatever secrets or information he may have on the Government, the Leader of the Opposition, Aubrey Norton has expressed concern for Brutus’ safety. 

A once celebrated Police Officer, Brutus is now facing more than 240 charges linked to money laundering, corruption and other financial crimes. He has maintained his innocence. 

Outside of the criminal charges that he is facing, he has filed action in the High Court against the Government, the Guyana Police Force and the Police Service Commission over the investigations that were conducted against him. He said the investigations were tainted by political interference and other issues.

The Opposition Leader today said having viewed the statements from Government officials in the past few days, he is now worried.

 “I worry for Brutus because whether it is true or not, he should have his day in Court, and be able to defend himself. But knowing the PPP, they have a history of [being] involved in executing people like that,” the Opposition Leader said. 

He told a news conference today that there may also be attempts to quietly cover up and bring an end to the allegations of corruption against Brutus and the Police to avoid further exposure of corruption within the system. 

“I believe all of this thing with Brutus is a front and they will quietly work out how they will get Brutus out of this, and withdraw because I don’t think Bharrat Jagdeo and the PPP could afford to have Brutus and senior policemen talking about drugs in the North West and about all of the illegalities that are occurring,” the Opposition Leader said.

Mr. Norton said like the PPP, he believes the Guyana Police Force is corrupt, unprofessional and complicit in crime and corruption. 

Norton said it would be of no surprise to him, if it is discovered that other senior ranks in the Police Force, and even Ministers of government, are involved in the corruption ring linked to the Police Force.

“I have no doubt that it involves sitting ministers – senior and junior. I have no doubt that it involves top ranks in the Guyana Police Force, that seems very obvious. That is why, I said his life is probably in danger,” the Opposition Leader said. 

He said for those and other reasons he cannot support the proposed appointment of Clifton Hicken as the substantive Commissioner of Police.

Hicken, who is currently acting as Police Commissioner, is alleged to have granted Brutus permission to engage in commercial activities. Norton said if such is the case, Hicken should also step down from the post of acting Commissioner of Police. 

Weighing in on the issue, Opposition Member of Parliament, Ganesh Mahipaul said the acting Police Commissioner’s silence on the matter is deafening. 

“His silence in all that is unfolding right now in the Guyana Police Force, surrounding the Brutus matter is deafening and I am finding it difficult as a citizen of this country to even think of supporting his confirmation on the mere fact that he remains silent on all that is happening. At the end of the day, he is sitting in that office as the top cop acting, and here you have a situation where we saw the SWAT team descending at the home of Mr Brutus in the Guyana Police Force compound, and the top cop seems to not be aware or he has not said anything,” MP Mahipaul said. 

The Opposition also wants a wider investigation to be launched into suspected acts of corruption within the force by an independent international organisation. It has registered its lack of confidence in the Special Organized Crime Unit (SOCU), describing it as an institution used by the Government to target and prosecute persons it has issues with. 

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