President should not appoint Hicken to substantive Top Cop post -says AFC Leader

President should not appoint Hicken to substantive Top Cop post -says AFC Leader

Leader of the Alliance For Change and Attorney-at-Law, Nigel Hughes believes that it would be unlawful for President Irfaan Ali to appoint Acting Police Commissioner Clifton Hicken to the substantive position long after his retirement.

Mr. Hicken, who reached the age of retirement more than a year ago, is currently enjoying an extension in his tenure as Acting Top Cop. That extension was granted by the President, who is now making moves to appoint Hicken to the substantive position.

At a press conference on Friday, Mr. Hughes said any move by the President to appoint Hicken to the substantive position now that he has passed the retirement age and is on an extension, would be challenged in Court. 

“I don’t believe you can appoint a Commissioner who was granted an extension, or who is on contract, and deem them Commissioner. I certainly believe that is legally flawed, and I believe this ought to be challenged in Court,” Hughes said. 

Leader of the Opposition, Aubrey Norton, has registered his strong objection to the President’s proposed appointment of Acting Top Cop to the substantive position, citing a number of reasons.

However, Attorney General Anil Nandlall, has said that the President does not need the approval of the Opposition Leader to appoint the Commissioner of Police. 

AFC Leader Nigel Hughes

He said the Constitution does not state that the Opposition Leader’s agreement is needed for the appointment, but rather caters for “meaningful consultation” to take place on the appointment of a Commissioner of Police. 

Weighing in further on the matter, AFC Leader Nigel Hughes, said it would be unwise for the President to proceed with Mr. Hicken’s appointment amid strong objections from the Opposition Leader.  

“It is not in the interest of any society, where you have the Leader of the Opposition, who represents half of that society, expressing a complete lack of confidence in the person who heads law enforcement, to pursue with such a person. This is not a question of politics, it is a question of law and order. And if you have such strong objections coming from the Leader of the Opposition, Mr. Norton, his lack of confidence in that particular candidate, I believe it is dangerous waters to persist with that candidate,” Hughes told reporters. 

The Guyana Police Force is currently under scrutiny amid claims of widespread corruption involving some members of the top brass of the Force. A probe of financial impropriety allegations against Assistant Commissioner, Calvin Brutus, is currently underway. The Special Organised Crime Unit is leading that probe. (Svetlana Marshall)

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