Leader of the Opposition, Aubrey Norton, has declined to disclose the identities of his party’s policy advisors, claiming they will be victimized by the government. He expressed this position during a press conference held today.
Norton cited concerns that revealing the names of the opposition’s policy advisers who mainly contribute to oil and gas related matters could expose them to potential victimization by the current government.
He said, ”We will not state in this public domain who our policy advisors are. We have a very vindictive government and the minute you call one name and they will go after the person.”
He expressed his belief that Guyana’s democracy is at risk, highlighting instances where the police force had allegedly been used against innocent individuals to buttress his statement. According to Norton, there are individuals within their circle who prefer to remain anonymous due to fears of government reprisals.
“We have people with us who do not want the government to know who is with us and who is advising us,” he claimed.
Norton did reveal that the Parliamentary Opposition has designated point persons for the oil and gas sector, including Former Minister David Patterson, and Members of Parliament Sherwin Holder and Ricky Ramsaroop. However, he stressed that the party aims to keep all members informed about the country’s oil and gas industry to contribute effectively to policy decisions.
Protecting the anonymity of their advisors was a paramount responsibility for the opposition, Norton argued. He firmly stated, “When they agreed to help, they agreed with the provision that they will not be exposed,” underscoring that he has no obligation to disclose their identities to the public.
It’s worth noting that the Aubrey Norton-led opposition has faced criticism in recent months for not capitalizing on opportunities to influence the country’s oil and gas development. Instead of providing recommendations on new model contracts for example, they have cited the need for advice from their advisors, thereby delaying their opinions on critical matters on numerous occasions.
