President explains appointment of acting commissioner; a doctrine of necessity

President Irfaan Ali revealed that the decision to appoint acting Deputy Commissioner in charge
of operations, Clifton Hicken to act in the capacity of Police Commissioner is “a doctrine of
necessity.”
Ali expressed confidence that it is impossible for the nation to remain without a Police
Commissioner, especially since Police Commissioner (ag) Nigel Hoppie will be proceeding on
retirement leave within days.
The President expressed this sentiment on Monday evening, while engaging journalists on the
sidelines of the launch of the master’s degree programme in strategic development studies, at the
University of Guyana, Turkeyen Campus, Georgetown.
“There is something called the doctrine of necessity, should I allow the country to function
without an acting commissioner?,” Ali questioned. He continued, “There is a doctrine of
necessity and in the doctrine of necessity, I appointed an acting commissioner.”
Dr. Ali emphasised that there are several other senior officers in the force who will function as
deputies. “There are a number of deputies. Hicken was deputy operation, you have deputy
admin, you have the crime chief and then you have (Senior Superintendent Ravindradat)
Budhram,” the President declared.
He added that Hicken’s appointment takes effect on March 30, 2022.