A Partnership for National Unity and Alliance For Change (APNU+AFC) Member of Parliament, Christopher Jones has moved to the High Court seeking a declaration that the appointment of Assistant Police Commissioner Clifton Hicken as Police Commissioner (ag.) is void and of no legal effect.
Demerarawaves’ publication yesterday, May 21, 2022, reported, that Jones through his Attorneys-at-Law Roysdale Forde and Selwyn Pieters is arguing that President Ali violated the Constitution of Guyana on March 30, 2022, when he appointed Hicken to Act as Commissioner of Police.
Jones wants the court to declare that “the invocation of the Doctrine of Necessity by President Ali to appoint Clifton Hicken as acting Commissioner of Police is unreasonable, ultra vires the Constitution, Common Law and is illegal, null, void and of no legal effect” and that all actions Mr. Hicken has taken so far are null and void and to be of no force or effect.
That the appointment of Hicken ahead of much more senior Deputy Commissioners was unconventional. According to Jones, the Convention exist to ensure that the Guyana Police Force continues to function with the most senior officers at the helm.
Mr. Jones is also asking the High Court to declare that there was no consultation between the President and the Leader of the Opposition as required by the Constitution prior to the appointment of Clifton Hicken as Commissioner of Police (ag.), and to issue an Order or ask Mr. Hicken to show under what authority he is exercising and/or discharging the functions of the Office of Commissioner of Police in an acting capacity or any capacity whatsoever.
The respondents are Attorney General Anil Nandlall and the Acting Commissioner of Police Clifton Hicken.
More, In The Ring.