– opens door for engaging Opposition Leader

PRESIDENT, Dr. Irfaan Ali, after consultation with Chairperson of the Police Service Commission (PSC), Patrick Findlay, has officially nominated Deputy Commissioner of Police, Clifton Hicken as Guyana’s acting Top Cop.

In a letter dated June 29, the Minister of Parliamentary Affairs and Governance, Gail Teixeira, wrote to the Leader of the Opposition, Aubrey Norton outlining the reasons why Hicken was appointed acting Top Cop back in March. The letter also invited Norton to give his opinion on the subject.

According to the letter, former Commissioner of Police (ag), Nigel Hoppie proceeded on pre-retirement leave on March 30, and at the time, there were no members appointed to the Police Service Commission, nor was there a person holding the post of Leader of the Opposition.

“Having regard to the preponderance of statutory functions and duties which devolve upon the Office of the Commissioner of Police and the Guyana Police Force by extension, including, the preservation of law and order, the preservation of peace, and the due enforcement of all laws and regulations within Guyana, in the nation’s best interest and in the interest of national security,” the letter to Norton which was released to the media stated.

President Ali, according to the letter, considered it his “constitutional duty” to appoint Hicken to act in the office of Commissioner of Police with effect March 30, 2022 rather than leave a “vacuum in the command and superintendence of the Guyana Police Force.”

On May 31, Findlay was sworn in as chair of the four-member Police Service Commission which also includes Mark Conway, Hakeem Mohamed, and Ernesto Choo-a-Fat.

The members of the PSC were approved by the parliamentary Committee on Appointments, after consultations with the Guyana Police Association comprising former members of the Guyana Police Force, and the National Community Policing Executive.

In keeping with the guidelines set out in the Constitution of Guyana, the President later successfully concluded consultation with the PSC Chairperson.

As such, the President is now seeking to engage Norton in “meaningful consultation”, as noted in the Teixeira’s letter, in respect of the appointment of Hicken. Norton is expected to give his opinion on the subject in writing on or before Monday, July 4.

Despite this, Norton, following the dispatch of the dated letter from Minister Teixeira’s office, has moved to the High Court seeking to quash the appointment of the PSC commissioners claiming that it was “illegal, null, void and of no legal effect.”

In his legal challenge, Norton is contending that the President did not afford him “a reasonable opportunity to express a considered opinion on the subject of the Consultation”. He maintains that this is a breach of the Integrity Commission Act.

As such, Norton is arguing that any consultation between the President and Findlay on the subject of the appointment of a Commissioner of Police of Guyana, is unconstitutional, null, void, and of no legal effect.