By | Tiana Cole | HGP Nightly News|
GEORGETOWN, GUYANA — In a blunt and uncompromising address, Commissioner of Police (Ag.) Clifton Hicken on Wednesday, March 4, 2026, declared war on corruption within the Guyana Police Force (GPF). Speaking at the opening of the Annual Sergeants’ Conference, Hicken warned that the era of “receiving” must end immediately, or ranks will face severe consequences.
The conference, held at the Officers’ Mess Annex under the theme “Modern Policing for a Modern Nation,” served as a platform for the Commissioner to demand a new level of professionalism from the Force’s frontline supervisors.
Zero Tolerance for Corruption
The Commissioner’s message to the sergeants—whom he described as the “frontline leaders” of the organization—was centered on integrity and public trust.
- Charge the Giver: Hicken directed ranks to transition from passive bystanders to active enforcers when faced with attempted bribery. “As of today, stop receiving, and persons must be charged when they come to bribe the police. I’m making myself very clear, or else other things will happen,” he warned.
- The Role of the Sergeant: He emphasized that sergeants set the tone at stations, on patrols, and during investigations. Their conduct, he noted, is the primary yardstick by which the public measures the entire Force.
Modernization by the Numbers
Hicken highlighted that the last five years have been the most organized period of reform in the GPF’s history, with 75% of planned initiatives already implemented. The shift toward a technology-driven Force has yielded significant statistical improvements:
| Metric | Achievement / Impact |
| Road Safety | 32 speed cameras deployed; 29% reduction in accidents. |
| E-Ticketing | Increased from 837 in 2024 to 24,793 in the current period. |
| Serious Crime | 27% decline attributed to intelligence-led operations. |
| Surveillance | 55 CCTV sites activated and 5 Command Centers constructed. |
| Accountability | 6,685 body-worn cameras rolled out nationwide. |
Infrastructure and Human Resources
The Force’s physical and professional capacity has seen a massive overhaul to match Guyana’s rapid national development.
- Facilities: The GPF has completed 23 new police stations and built 10 new boat houses to bolster maritime security. Ranks now utilize 942 digital workstations across the country.
- Personnel Growth: In 2025 alone, there were 3,510 merit-based promotions and the enlistment of 774 new recruits.
- Community Engagement: The Commissioner credited the reduction in crime partly to the work of 476 Community Policing Groups (CPGs), which serve as a bridge between the police and the public.
The “Modern Policing” Mandate
Commissioner Hicken concluded by stating that the Force must evolve alongside the nation. By integrating technology and innovation, he believes the GPF can finally shed the stigma of corruption and become a respected institution of public safety.
“You are the frontline leaders of this noble organization. You set a tone at stations, on patrol, in traffic enforcement, and during your investigations.” — Commissioner Clifton Hicken
