The Special Organised Crime Unit’s (SOCU) move to charge former Health Minister, Dr. George Norton, for misconduct in public office, was intended to cause provocation. At least this is according to the People’s National Congress Reform (PNCR).
The PNCR, which is the largest party in the A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) bloc, has also labelled the “dragging” of Dr. Norton – its former Vice-Chairman – before the court, as an “act of aggression, victimization, harassment and dehumanisation”.
Dr. Norton made headlines back in 2016 in the infamous Sussex Street Bond fiasco, triggering criticism from the then-opposition, the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) and sections of civil society. An audit done by the Audit Office of Guyana into the rental of the facility at Lot 29 Sussex Street, Alboystown, made startling revelations pertaining to the faulty procurement process and the minister’s involvement in the same.
The matter was then forwarded to SOCU, where investigations revealed that Dr. Norton allegedly instructed his Permanent Secretary, Trevor Thomas not to engage the National Procurement and Tender Administration Board (NPTAB) with respect to the tender and/or any submission of any justification for a single source award to Linden Holding Inc. for the rental of the bond to store pharmaceuticals. This was in contravention to the Procurement Act. Cap. 73:01.
The Agreement of Tenancy was made on the 20th July 2016 between Linden Holding Inc., and the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Public Health, for a period of three years commencing 1st June 2016, at a monthly rent of GYD$12.5M. An advance payment of GYD$37.5M was paid to Linden Holding Inc. for two months’ rent and one month’s security deposit.
When Dr Norton appeared before the Chief Magistrate, Ann McLennan at the Georgetown Magistrates Court last Tuesday, he was not required to plead to the charges as they were indictable.
He was placed on $400,000 bail and required to lodge his passport. The matter was adjourned to April 27, 2021.
The PNCR says that the charge was “instigated by the PPP/C regime” and intended to cause provocation.
The PNCR said that these actions “will only encourage obstruction to good governance and further aggravate racial and political tensions across Guyana. It is a clear trend that has developed whereby Guyanese citizens are targeted and trumped-up charges leveled against them”.
