Effective policing cannot be achieved in isolation – Top Cop

…calls for stronger partnerships to improve public safety

Police Commissioner Clifton Hicken has emphasised the importance of collaboration among law enforcement agencies, public institutions, civil society and communities in addressing security challenges, stating that effective policing cannot be achieved in isolation.

Speaking on the theme of effective policing through partnership, Hicken said integrity, professionalism and strong partnerships are essential to building public trust and improving public safety.
The Commissioner made the remarks while delivering the feature address at the graduation and closing ceremony for the Guyana Police Force (GPF) Academy’s Junior Officers’ Course No. 1/2026, held on Wednesday at the Police Officers’ Mess Annexe.
The programme saw 31 participants successfully complete the course, achieving a 100 per cent pass rate.
Hicken told the graduates that the knowledge and skills acquired during the course must be applied in the execution of their duties, noting that the true measure of the programme’s success would be reflected in their leadership and professional conduct.
Quoting leadership expert John C Maxwell, the Commissioner stated, “A leader is one who knows the way, goes the way, and shows the way,” while encouraging the officers to lead with integrity and commitment.
The Junior Officers’ Course, which has been conducted over the past three years, is part of the GPF’s efforts to develop competent leaders within the organisation and the wider security sector.
The graduating cohort comprised officers from the GPF, Guyana Defence Force, Guyana Prison Service, Guyana Fire Service, Customs Anti-Narcotic Unit (CANU), Guyana Revenue Authority, as well as regional law enforcement agencies from Antigua and Barbuda, The Bahamas, Belize, Dominica, Grenada, Jamaica, St Kitts and Nevis, St Vincent and the Grenadines, Suriname, and the Turks and Caicos Islands.
The course was designed to strengthen leadership, supervisory and management competencies through academic and practical training aimed at improving decision-making and operational capabilities.
The ceremony was chaired by the Commandant of the GPF Academy, Georgetown Campus, Superintendent Jeanette Prince. Course coordinator Superintendent Delon Fraser provided an overview of the programme, highlighting its objectives, training components and participants’ performance, while Director of the GPF Academy, Senior Superintendent Sonia Herbert, also delivered remarks.
Following the ceremony, certificates were presented to the graduates.
Awards were presented to Woman Inspector Ester Cal of Belize, who was named valedictorian; Assistant Superintendent Lawrence Smith of the Bahamas, who placed second; and Inspector Tyree Gardiner of the Turks and Caicos Islands, who placed third.
The Best Academic Paper award was shared by Woman Inspector Ester Cal and Assistant Superintendent Doodnauth Chaitram of the GPF.