Minister Norton should demit office

Dear Editor,

Minister of Health Dr George Norton should demit office. This is the overwhelming view among Guyanese in New York that I spoke with following the media revelation of what appears to be corruption (wastage of scarce revenues as a repayment to a campaign financier) directly linked to him relating to the rental payment of the storage bond for drugs. And aside from evidence of this latest corrupt act, which seemingly has been condoned by the cabinet, voters in Guyana in opinion polls I conducted last year August and last March described Norton as lacking the capacity and ability for the position of Minister of Health.

Dr Norton and the Minister of Agriculture, Noel Holder, were rated as the worst ministers of the APNU/AFC Government hurting the image of the government. Voters felt they lacked the ability for the job and did not have “a clue” about what to do in their Ministries. The general consensus is that both lack the requisite knowledge and skill for their Ministerial positions.

New York-based Guyanese I conversed with, supporters of the PNC, AFC, and PPP, as well as other parties, almost unanimously feel Norton has compromised himself and should tender his resignation immediately.

They firmly believe Norton misled Parliament and his cabinet colleagues on the rental fee of the drug bond with some even saying his colleagues were in with the scam to rip off the nation.

They say if Norton refuses to resign, then the President should fire him. Guyanese find it incredible that cabinet was not aware of the rental and yet approved it before carrying out an examination of the property, and whether it was value for the exorbitant fee.

They also say that an apology, as being suggested by President Granger for Norton’s misleading the cabinet and the parliament on the matter of the drug bond rental, is an insult to the population. Anything less than removal from office is unacceptable.

Guyanese say that President Granger has an opportunity to take tough action against a cabinet Minister who has been caught engaging in an inappropriate act. Firing him will send a strong message that corrupt actions will not be tolerated.

Before the latest scandal hitting the Health Ministry involving the huge rental fee for an incomplete drug storage bond, medical practitioners, including those who supported the APNU/AFC coalition in the May 2015 General Elections, pointed out to me (and survey interviewers) that Norton did/does not seem to have much knowledge about his job as contrasted with his predecessors Dr Bheri Ramsaran and Dr Leslie Ramsammy, both of whom exhibited competence in the position.

Medical people, including many of Norton’s closest friends and those who worked with him at the Georgetown Public Hospital, felt/feel Norton was/is the wrong person for the Health Ministry and that the Health sector has suffered tremendously under his tenure. They want him off the job. They say it is time for him to be replaced with the rental scam providing an ideal opportunity to push him out.

With the corruption allegation of misleading the nation on the rental, to save grace, Norton should do the honourable thing and submit his resignation to the President. Guyanese in New York and those I spoke with visiting the US from Guyana feel Norton should accept responsibility for misleading the nation by leaving office. Many are also of the view that Norton’s cabinet and APNU/AFC parliamentary colleagues were/are aware of what they describe as a rental scam, cheating the treasury, to repay an election financier for his contribution in the elections campaign.

Yours truly,

Vishnu Bisram