Constitution provides for Top Cop to continue serving up to age 60 – AG 

See full statement from Attorney General and Minister of Legal Affairs Anil Nandlall:

1. A question has arisen in the public domain which I feel compelled to address. It is whether Mr. Clifton Hicken, Acting Commissioner of Police, who is over 55 years old, is eligible to be appointed (substantively) to the Office of Commissioner of Police. Some commentators contend that he cannot.

2. It will be recalled that a legal challenge was brought at the behest of Mr. Aubrey Norton, Leader of the Opposition against the appointment of Mr. Hicken to act in that position. The allegation was that His Excellency President Dr. Mohamed Irfaan Ali did not comply with the Constitution of Guyana in making that appointment.

3. In a detailed and reasoned Judgment, the learned Chief Justice dismissed that challenge and unequivocally affirm that the President acted lawfully and properly in appointing Mr. Hicken to act in the Office of Commissioner of Police.

4. Article 211 (3) of the Constitution provides that the Commissioner of Police shall vacate office when he ‘???????????????????????????? ???????????????? ???????????? ???????? ???????????? ???????? ???????????????????????????????????????? ???????? ????????????????????????????????????????’.

5. Parliament has so prescribed in the Constitution (Prescribed Matters) Act, Cap. 27:12. Section 2 of this Act provides that the retirement age of the Commissioner of Police is 55 years.

6. However and significantly, Section 2 (b) authorises the President to permit the Commissioner of Police to continue in Office but not beyond age 60. The relevant parts of the section reads:

“2. ????????????…???????????????????????????????????????????????? ???????? ???????????????????????? ???????????????????? ???????????????????????? [????????????] … ???????????????????????? ???????? ???????????????????????????????????? ???????????? ???????????? ???????? ????????????????????-????????????????:

???????????????????????????????? ???????????????? –

(????) ???????????? ????????????????????????????????????, ???????????????????????? ???????? ???????????? ???????????????????????????????????????????????????????? ???????? ???????????? ???????????????????????? ???????????????????????????? ???????????????????????????????????????? ???????????? ???????????????????????? ???? ???????????????????????????????????????????????? ???????? ???????????????????????? ???????????? ???????????????????????????????? ???????????? ???????????? ???????? ????????????????????-???????????????? ???????????????????? ???????? ???????????????????????????????? ???????? ???????????????????????? ???????????????????? ???????? ???????????? ???????????????????????????????? ???????????????? ???????????????????? ????????????, ???????????? ???????????????????????????????????? 60 ????????????????????, ???????? ???????????? (???????????????????????? ???????????? ???????????????????????????????????????????????? ???????? ???????????????????????? ???????????? ????????????????????????????????.”

7. By letter dated 21st July 2023, acting on the recommendation of the Police Service Commission, His Excellency granted Mr. Hicken, whose 55th birthday was on the 22nd July 2023, “???????????????????????????????????????? ???????? ???????????????????????????????? ???????? ???????????? ???????? ???????????? ???????????????????????? ???????? ???????????????????????????????????????????????? ???????? ???????????????????????? ???????????? ???????? ???????????????????????????? ???????????????????? ???????????????????????????????????? ???????????????????? ???? ???????????????? ???????? ???????? ????????????????????????????????????????.”

8. Undoubtedly, since his appointment to act in the Office of Commissioner of Police, Mr. Hicken has been and is the Officer in charge of superintending and commanding the Guyana Police Force. This indubitable state of affairs aligns with the Constitutional definition of Commissioner of Police: “the officer, however styled, commanding the Police Force” [as per Article 232].

9. Article 211 (2) of the Constitution states:

“…???????????? ???????????????????????? ???????????????????????????????????? ???????? ???????????? ???????? ???????????? ???????????????????????? ???????? ???????????????????????????????????????????????? ???????? ???????????????????????? ????????????????????…???????????????????????????????? ???????? ???????????? ???????????????????? ???? ???????????????????????? ???????????? ???????????????? ???????????????????????????????????? ???????? ???????????????? ???????????????????????? ???????????? ???????????? ???????????????????????????? ???????????? ???????????????????????????????????? ????????????????????????????…”

10. Having regard to the relevant provisions of the Constitution and the Constitution (Prescribed Matters) Act and the relevant factual configuration under review, wherein lies the prohibition against the President appointing Mr. Hicken (substantively) to the post of Commissioner of Police? I conceive none.

11. To the contrary, the conjoint effect of the relevant provisions of the Constitution and the Constitution (Prescribed Matters) Act impel to the imminent potentiality of Mr. Hicken being appointed to that Office. The contention, therefore, that he cannot, is an affront to both common sense and law.