Clifton Hicken was Thursday sworn in as Guyana’s Commissioner of Police, after acting in the role since 2022.
Hicken was confirmed in this position after taking the Oath of Office before the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Guyana, President Dr. Irfaan Ali.
Additionally, top Police officials Ravindradat Budhram, Wendell Blanhum, Errol Watts, and Fizul Karimbaksh were sworn in as Deputy Commissioners of Police.
Mr. Simon McBean, who is out of the jurisdiction, will be sworn in as Deputy Police Commissioner subsequently.
Members of the political opposition were among those who opposed Mr. Hicken’s substantive appointment. A legal challenge was brought by Opposition Leader, Aubrey Norton but it was dismissed by Chief Justice (ag.) Roxane George SC.
Subsequently, in a statement, Attorney General Nandlall SC said Article 211(3) of the Constitution provides that the Commissioner of Police shall vacate office when he “attains such age as may be prescribed by Parliament.”
Parliament has prescribed this in the Constitution (Prescribed Matters) Act, Cap. 27:12. Section 2 of this Act states that the retirement age of the Commissioner of Police is 55 years. However, Section 2(b) of the Act allows the President to authorize the Commissioner of Police to continue in office, but not beyond 60 years.
By letter dated 21st July 2023, and based on the recommendation of the Police Service Commission, Dr. Ali granted Mr. Hicken, whose 55th birthday was on 22nd July 2023, “permission to continue to act in the office of Commissioner of Police and to perform those functions until a time to be determined.
