𝐓𝐨𝐩 𝐂𝐨𝐩, 𝐄𝐋𝐓 𝐦𝐞𝐞𝐭 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐫 𝟓𝟎𝟎 𝐇𝐐 𝐫𝐚𝐧𝐤𝐬 — 𝐦𝐞𝐞𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐟𝐨𝐜𝐮𝐬𝐞𝐝 𝐨𝐧 𝐰𝐚𝐲 𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐰𝐚𝐫𝐝, 𝐞𝐱𝐩𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬 𝐨𝐟 𝐩𝐨𝐥𝐢𝐜𝐞 𝐫𝐚𝐧𝐤𝐬 𝐚𝐭 𝐚𝐥𝐥 𝐥𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐥𝐬 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐢𝐧 𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐲 𝐃𝐞𝐩𝐚𝐫𝐭𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭/𝐃𝐢𝐯𝐢𝐬𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐢𝐧 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟓

Commissioner of Police Mr Clifton Hicken along with members of his Executive Leadership Team, earlier this morning (Friday, January 3, 2025) met with over five hundred (500) policemen and women stationed around Police Headquarters, at the Police Officers’ Mess Annexe, Eve Leary, Georgetown.

Members of the ELT included Deputy Commissioner ‘Administration’ Mr Ravindradat Budhram; Deputy Commissioner ‘Operations’ Mr Errol Watts; Deputy Commissioner ‘Law Enforcement’ Mr Wendell Blanhum; Head of SOCU, Deputy Commissioner Mr Fazil Karimbaksh; and Commander of Region 4’A’, Deputy Commissioner Mr Simon McBean.

Today’s meeting focused on the way forward and what will be expected of police ranks at all levels and in every Department and Division in 2025. As highlighted by Commissioner Hicken and the Deputy Commissioners, emphasis will be placed on improving the Guyana Police Force in every aspect including the continuous development of its human resources through academic, police-related training, infrastructural development and importantly, forging meaningful relationships with members of the public and communities throughout Guyana.

Commissioner Hicken, during his address to the packed gathering of policemen and women, spoke at length about the development currently ongoing within the Force. Some of these developments as pointed out by the Commissioner include:

1) Upgrading of physical infrastructure to meet the needs of police ranks and which are conducive to visiting members of the public

2) Technological advancement that has bolstered crime fighting, traffic management, and improved service delivery to members of the public

3) Improved operational efficiency through the acquisition and allocation of resources

While addressing the gathering, the Top Cop reminded them of their role as law enforcement officers, mandating them to be good ambassadors of the Police Force and to strengthen their relationships with the communities in which they live. He shared that this will play an integral role in helping to reduce crimes.

Top Cop Hicken also stated: “We’re doing well, but we can do more. This is the first time in the history of the Guyana Police Force, [that] we can walk into any community, any region, and interact with members of the public. This initiative is one that must be maintained and will be maintained. And when you leave here today and you venture into where you live, you are to create an atmosphere where people are willing to come on board with you.”

Addressing the issues of conduct, appearance, and punctuality, Commissioner Hicken sternly warned those in attendance that they will always be under scrutiny as policemen and women for these; hence, once found in breach of any, they will be dealt with accordingly.

On the issue of the much-anticipated ‘promotions list’, Commissioner Hicken said: “I don’t need to tell you when, but it’s going to come very soon. You’re going to have your promotion.”

While he assured that the promotions list will be released soon, Top Cop Hicken reminded the ranks that not everyone can be promoted at the same time.

Before concluding, Commissioner Hicken reminded those present that despite its challenges and setbacks, the Guyana Police Force will continue to expand and progress.

“This Guyana Police Force will continue to progress until we become the best [Police Force] in the Caribbean,” Commissioner Hicken posited.

Members of the ELT — Deputy Commissioners Ravindradat Budhram, Errol Watts, Wendell Blanhum, and Fazil Karimbaksh — also delivered brief and pertinent charges to the ranks, with the underlying theme being the need for ‘unity and teamwork’ and to support each other in the Guyana Police Force. The ELT members urged the ranks to be honest and professional at all times and be ever cognisant of their deportment and self-discipline as they stay true to their sworn mandate to serve and protect.

(𝑹𝒆𝒑𝒐𝒓𝒕 𝒃𝒚 𝑪𝑪𝑼’𝒔 𝑪𝒐𝒓𝒑𝒐𝒓𝒂𝒍 𝑨𝒗𝒊𝒏𝒅𝒓𝒂 𝑹𝒂𝒋𝒃𝒂𝒍𝒍𝒊, 𝑷𝒉𝒐𝒕𝒐𝒔 𝒃𝒚 𝑺𝒆𝒓𝒈𝒆𝒂𝒏𝒕 𝑪𝒍𝒊𝒇𝒇𝒐𝒓𝒅 𝑮𝒆𝒐𝒓𝒈𝒆 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝑺𝒆𝒓𝒈𝒆𝒂𝒏𝒕 𝑹𝒂𝒘𝒍𝒘𝒊𝒏 𝑱𝒂𝒄𝒌)