“The country is depending on you” – top cop tells Police trainees at annual luncheon

…urged to uphold discipline and duty in modern policing

The Guyana Police Force (GPF) Academy on Friday hosted its Annual Trainees’ Christmas Luncheon 2025 at the Police Officers’ Mess Annex, bringing together recruits, senior leadership and Government officials for a programme focused on discipline, accountability and the expectations of contemporary policing.
Police Commissioner Clifton Hicken urged trainees to view the luncheon as a significant milestone in their development, calling it a reminder of the responsibilities attached to joining the Police force. He told recruits that although they remain in training, they are already part of an institution central to national safety.
The Commissioner stressed that policing requires responsibility, discipline and a commitment to high standards. He noted that the purpose of the Academy’s training is to prepare recruits for real-world situations where their judgement, character and integrity will be tested. He said essential values such as courage, restraint, fairness and consistency must guide every officer.
Hicken outlined the Academy’s growth over the past five years, noting improvements in curriculum quality, accreditation, instructor certification and partnerships with international learning institutions. These developments, he said, aim to equip trainees with the skills required in modern policing.
He reminded recruits that training must be matched by personal discipline and accountability. He listed the expectations of every member entering the Force: disciplined conduct and appearance, respect for the public and colleagues, integrity in decision-making, ongoing learning and professionalism in interactions with citizens.
The Commissioner also highlighted that senior officers personally serving lunch was an intentional act of leadership, meant to demonstrate service, respect and responsibility.
“The country is depending on you. Your families are depending on you. And this institution is depending on you,” he told the trainees. He concluded with a quote from Dr Martin Luther King Jr: “The time is always right to do what is right.”
Meanwhile, Home Affairs Minister Oneidge Walrond commended Commissioner Hicken’s message and reaffirmed the Government’s support for the trainees’ development. She encouraged recruits to embrace humility, responsibility and service as they prepare to undertake national duties. She noted that public trust, compassion and professionalism are key to strengthening relationships between officers and the communities they serve.
The programme included dance and poetry presentations, along with a choir performance by male trainees from Berbice. Senior officers, including the Minister, Commissioner, Deputy Commissioner and other leaders served meals to the recruits, reinforcing the day’s focus on leadership through service.
The Annual Trainees’ Christmas Luncheon continues to serve as a key event on the Academy’s calendar, bridging formal training with the professional expectations of policing in Guyana.
Executive Director of the National Accreditation Council of Guyana, Dr Marcel Hutson; Deputy Commissioner (Administration), Ravindradat Budhram; and other senior and junior officers were also present at the event.