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In a press conference held today, October 29, 2024, People’s National Congress Reform (PNCR) Member of Parliament Ganesh Mahipaul voiced strong criticisms of the Guyana Police Force (GPF), alleging that it has become a compromised institution under the People’s Progressive Party (PPP) administration. Mahipaul’s remarks highlighted recent scandals and what he described as a deteriorating public trust in the nation’s security forces. He contended that the GPF now poses “a national security risk” due to alleged criminal affiliations among high-ranking officers and a lack of accountability.
“Top officers are allegedly involved in various crimes. The force itself is the source of tip-offs and cover-ups in service of criminals,” Mahipaul stated, referencing recent cases involving high-ranking officers linked to significant criminal activities. Among his examples were news headlines implicating police involvement in major cases, including a September report of a senior police officer’s connection to a large-scale cocaine bust in Matthews Ridge, and the more recent October 18 allegations against Assistant Commissioner Calvin Brutus, who faces charges involving nearly GY$1 billion in questionable funds.
Mahipaul contended that such instances demonstrate an entrenched culture of corruption that the PPP government has neither addressed nor condemned. “Crimes allegedly committed by government ministers and politically connected persons are swept under the carpet,” Mahipaul stated, suggesting that the PPP’s influence has made it difficult for the police force to operate independently or impartially.
One of the key points of Mahipaul’s was critical of focused on the appointment of Clifton Hicken as Police Commissioner, which he described as a “constitutional breach.” He argued that Hicken’s appointment undermines the integrity of the force and reflects a larger disregard for the rule of law by the PPP. “Hicken is unfit to be Commissioner of Police,” Mahipaul claimed, suggesting that the GPF’s leadership structure has compromised the agency’s ability to serve the public effectively.
In a statement on Assistant Commissioner Brutus, Mahipaul raised concerns about the seeming lack of financial oversight within the GPF and Guyana’s anti-money laundering mechanisms. “How is it possible for any citizen, much less a Politically Exposed Person (PEP) like the Assistant Commissioner of Police, to amass almost a billion dollars of questionable resources without setting off money-laundering or proceeds-of-crime red flags?” he asked, suggesting that required suspicious activity reports may have been suppressed to protect political interests. He warned that a failure to address these lapses could lead to Guyana facing financial blacklisting, posing significant risks to the economy.
Mahipaul argued that the only solution to restoring public trust in the GPF and addressing these systemic issues is a change in government. He emphasized that “comprehensive reforms” in policing and anti-corruption are critical, promising that the PNCR, if elected, would prioritize the restructuring of the GPF. “We are confident we will transform the Guyana Police Force into a professional, well-trained, highly motivated, and well-paid entity in service of the people,” he stated.
