Hicken acknowledges Police flaws, but says criticisms must be constructive

Acknowledging that there are flaws in the way the Guyana Police Force operates, Commissioner of Police (ag) Clifton Hicken Tuesday nevertheless urged the public to be constructive in the way it criticizes the Force.

“…Criticisms is necessary for a developing organisation like the Guyana Police Force, in terms of creating the evolution to be compatible to what is going on in the global sphere.

“We cannot work in isolation and so if you are going to criticize us, we can be more constructive.

“It’s not what is done, it’s how it’s done,” Hicken said on Tuesday.

Hicken made the call as he was addressing the opening of the Force’s 185^th anniversary symposium.

Additionally, the Commissioner of Police said just like downfalls, the Force should be praised where necessary, particularly as it relates to its role of maintaining peace in the country.

“Praise us when are doing good and praise us for maintaining peaceful communities, because incrementally, we are doing well in terms of our crime statistics.

“I think if we start breaking those barriers as a nation, we are going to do better. Nothing is wrong with ventilating when there is issues within our organisation.

“We can only be the change you want to see if you embrace us. We are children of parents birthed in Guyana…And so when you speak to us, speak to us like your children, your brother or a family,” Hicken highlighted.

With the ongoing development in the country, Hicken also acknowledged that policing is much more difficult.

“Policing in this contemporary period is much different than the way we use to do things.

“Tools will always be a problem in terms of quantity but we are maximizing what we have and of course we should be given kudos on that,” Hicken said.