Commissioner of Police, Clifton Hicken, promoted seven ranks on the spot’ during a visit to Regional Police Division #10 on Tuesday.
The newly promoted officers included Constable Braithwaite, Detective Constables Wilson, Ushar and Woman Constable Fraser – who were all elevated to the rank of Corporal. Constables Williams and Taylor along with Woman Constable Wilson were promoted to Lance Corporal.
Hicken along with members of the Guyana Police Force’s Executive Leadership Team (ELT) met and engaged with Commander of the Division, Superintendent Guy Nurse, along with his officers and ranks at the Division’s MacKenzie Police Station Headquarters.
During the meeting, Commissioner Hicken and ELT members, Deputy Commissioners, Ravindradat Budhram, Errol Watts, Wendell Blanhum and Simon McBean, outlined the way forward and what is expected of police ranks in 2025.
Commissioner Hicken, while delivering the feature address, spoke at length about the six pillars of the Force’s 2022-2026 Strategic Plan, emphasising particularly on the pillars of Partnership, Developing Our People and Professionalism and Accountability.
In his address Commissioner Hicken, implored the ranks on the importance of working together and focusing more on community-oriented policing, to reduce crime within the Region.
“The patrols, traffic and everybody need to work together to have great success. No more Detective alone, no more General Duty alone, no more Traffic Police alone. You’re going to all work together. You’re [going to] compliment each other in terms of information, you’re [going to] compliment each other in terms of seizures, and you’re [going to] compliment each other in terms of success. This starts now,” Commissioner Hicken stated.
Speaking on the partnership, Top Cop Hicken directed the Commander and his ranks to get into the communities and engage the residents. This, he, alluded should be the way forward in terms of community policing, as it is critical in addressing issues in the communities and integral in the fight against crime.
“You have over 150 police ranks here, how come you are still having crime up here? That is unacceptable. You should not have crime occurring here, because Linden is a place that is very busy; but everybody here, they are all friendly people,” Top Cop Hicken posited.
Addressing the Operation Pillar of the Strategic Plan, the Commissioner outlined that this pillar gives the necessity to increase gun and drug seizures, and conduct traffic stops but said that this must be done in keeping the prescribed Standing Orders.
“I want to say that the Operation Pillar gives you the necessities so that you can increase seizure for guns, increase seizure for drugs. But there’s a particular way with which this is to be done, in keeping with the police standing orders. And so if you’re stopping a vehicle for drugs or guns, you’re not going to ask for license,” CoP Hicken stressed.
The Top Cop further went on, stating: “No traffic police (and) no general duty police must stop any vehicles without a body camera. If there’s a search and there’s suspicion, call the operation room, continue the pursuit, but let the people with the body camera curtail that vehicle, so that it will be done properly.”
Commissioner Hicken, during his remarks, addressed several other issues, particularly expounding on professionalism and accountability among all members of the Force, warning that anyone found doing things they aren’t supposed to be doing, and anyone found involved in corrupt activities will be dealt with the full force of the law.
Members of the ELT, who all spoke to the officers and ranks of Region #10, urged them to embrace the changes taking place in the Force and to take advantage of all the opportunities they now have available for growth –both personally and professionally.
They also encouraged the Police officers and ranks in Region #10, to embrace and exemplify the pillars of the Force’s Strategic Plan, and to remain professional and dedicated in the execution of their mandate of ‘Service and Protection’.
