Dear Editor,
I fully support MP Ganesh Mahipaul’s letter, published in the Kaieteur News on October 5th, 2024, which exposed the damaging consequences of Clifton Hicken’s tenure as Commissioner of Police. The issues plaguing the Guyana Police Force are not products of “idle minds,” as some may claim. These are serious, observable failings in both law enforcement and governance that demand immediate accountability.
In stark contrast, Mr. Leroy Smith’s letter, published on October 7th, 2024, in the same newspaper, presents an overly flattering view of Hicken’s leadership. His glowing praise resembles that of a personal cheerleader rather than an impartial journalist. Smith’s focus on “accessibility” to the Commissioner raises an important question—accessibility for whom? It seems clear that Smith is speaking for himself, as he enjoys unique access to the Commissioner, a privilege not extended to the public or other journalists. His close ties to Hicken are well-known, and no other journalist has provided such extensive, one-sided coverage of the Commissioner’s work. This level of bias from a journalist is deeply concerning.
Furthermore, Mr. Smith conveniently overlooks the growing allegations of corruption and lawlessness under Hicken’s leadership. While he dismisses them as “outrageous,” the statistics tell a different story. From 2020 to the present, Guyana has seen a rise in road fatalities, violent crimes, and robberies, leaving citizens to ask: where is the accountability? Where is the transparency? The corrupt practices surrounding firearm licences and police promotions cannot be swept under the rug with vague promises of modernization and human resource development.
Mr. Mahipaul’s critique is not an act of political hostility, but a reflection of the lived experiences of many Guyanese who witness a police force in decline and growing insecurity. It is not “delusional” to demand better management of law enforcement, nor is it “idle” to call for an end to the rot within the system.
Mr Editor ,the public must not be misled by selective narratives designed to shield the powerful. Confirming Mr. Hicken as Commissioner would be a clear endorsement of incompetence, corruption, and the breakdown of law and order. We must stand against this and demand real accountability.
Yours truly,
Saheed Zulfikar Mohamed
