Opposition Leader, Aubrey Norton has announced that he has lawyered up to challenge the appointment of Mr. Clifton Hicken as Commissioner of Police. 

President Irfaan Ali confirmed the appointment of the Commissioner of Police this morning. Hicken had been acting in the position for the past two years and has already passed the retirement age.

In an interview this afternoon, Mr. Norton said he believes the appointment is illegal on several grounds.

“I have spoken to the lawyers this morning, and clearly we are going to take legal action on this one, because for one, I don’t consider myself to have been consulted and then law said I should be consulted. When he wrote me, I made it very clear that what is needed is an investigation not the appointment of people who are of questionable character. So to me, the President is again involved in another unlawful act,” the Opposition Leader said.

Mr. Norton also contends that Hicken should not have been promoted and confirmed in the position after the age of retirement, even if his acting appointment was extended.

“That he would have proceeded to appoint Hicken is indicative of the fact that they are complicit in the corruption, because here are people, there are serious allegations against them and you are confirming them, what you are doing and saying to the people of Guyana is that you are comfortable with corruption in the Guyana Police Force,” Norton said.

Further the Opposition Leader noted that the Police Force over the last several years has faced many questions about the competence of its leaders and the President should have shown some interest in having a competent leader of the Force.

“Also some in the leadership of the Police Force is manifestly incompetent and to appoint him and then to go on as if they are competent is also an indication that the government needs incompetent and compromised people which they can therefore hold over them to achieve their objective. We have long said that the Police Force has been politicize and this is again a manifestation of the politicization of the Guyana police Force,” the Opposition Leader stated. 

The Government has dismissed the Opposition Leader’s contention and has stated that it will fight any attempt to challenge the appointment.

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AG Nandlall says Opposition Leader’s agreement not needed for appointment of Police Commissioner Norton threatens legal action if President appoints Hicken as substantive Police Commissioner Norton seeks answers from Ali over unilateral appointment of Acting Top Cop before consultations Norton maintains appointment of Hicken as Acting Police Commissioner is illegal