GPF slams Rickford Burke’s ‘Attention Seeking’ social media rant

Social Media Commentator and head of the Caribbean Guyana Institute of Democracy Rickford Burke on Tuesday came out swinging at the Character of Guyana’s Commissioner of Police Clifton Hicken for accompanying President Irfaan Ali into Agricola, East Bank Demerara. A practice that has been a long-standing protocol of the Guyana Police Force. The Guyana Police Force responded to Burke in a statement.

Below is a modification of the statement issued by the Police Force:

Following the tragic resurrection of social media commentator Rickford Burke, The Guyana Police Force (GPF) yesterday issued a statement condemning his relevance-seeking attacks on the Force and its senior ranks. As expected, the ever-problematic Burke continues to vacuously attack the Commissioner of Police (ag) Mr. Clifton Hicken in his efforts to better the Force, by constantly attacking, criticizing, and putting a higher-than-usual level of ignorance out on social platforms to hinder the steady flow of progress.

The force in its statement school burke about what the protocol is whenever the Head of State visits a community while pointing out that the force’s Strategic Plan 2022-2026 targets the reduction of crime via partnerships with communities at all levels.

The majority of the general public can attest that under Commissioner Hicken’s influence, the GPF has greatly improved developing a stronger citizen-police relationship. And while in office, Mr. Hicken will continue to bring glory to the name of the GPF, the Burke was told.

Because of this approach, the force enjoyed a reduction in serious crimes by 19.5 percent for the year 2022 compared to the previous year with Clifton Hicken as Commissioner of Police.

Just a mere social media announcement saw hundreds of Guyanese from all walks of life joining the Guyana Police Force’s Mashramani Band, thereby making the organization the largest and most prominent band on the road, another aspect of what the community involvement and relationship with the force can produce.

To bring credibility to some of the accusations against the COP, Burke seeks to paint several unfortunate examples which occurred long before the current COP ascended to the position.

The GPF is urging members of the public not to be distracted by the misguided utterances of a wanted fugitive. Policemen and women out there are from civil society, and they have parents and families too.

“Cognizant of the fact that criminal elements like Burke will always be agitated whenever positive strides are being made by law enforcement officials in pursuit of achieving its mandate to enhance the safety and security of respective communities, the GPF is urging members of the public not to be distracted by the misguided utterances of a wanted fugitive. Policemen and women out there are from civil society, and they have parents and families too”

Commissioner Hicken calls on all right-thinking Guyanese, civil society organizations, and the general public to rebuke everything Burke is saying and not to encourage him to make such utterances.