Sexual harassment complaint against Norton : PNCR General Secretary ‘unaware’ of findings of probe amid Vanessa Kissoon’s resignation
General Secretary of the People’s National Congress Reform (PNCR), Sherwyn Benjamin on Friday bafflingly claimed that he has no knowledge of what came out of the investigation by the party women, elders and youth arms into allegations by longtime member party member, Vanessa Kissoon, of allegations of sexual harassment.
Benjamin made revelations on Friday, during the PNCR’s weekly virtual press conference, where questions were raised by journalists about Kissoon’s resignation which was announced earlier this week. According to reports, Kissoon cited personal reasons as the driving force behind her resignation. In June 2024, Kissoon had alleged that she was sexually harassed by Leader of the PNCR, Aubrey Norton.
Opposition Leader, Aubrey Norton
Benjamin was appointed as the party’s General Secretary in July, 2024 but claims that he was not there when the investigation ensued.
“You’re asking me to veer into uncharted waters. As you are aware I was not holding this role that I am now prior to then. But I can certainly research, ask a question and get back to you on that,” was Benjamin’s response to queries on the investigation into Kissoon’s claims.
General Secretary of PNCR, Sherwyn Benjamin
Reports of Kissoon’s allegations were first made public on social media by a PNCR supporter, Kissoon said that she had not given the person permission to publicise the incident. However, when Norton called on Kissoon to clear the air on the allegations, she later released her own statement standing by the allegations.
According to Kissoon’s account, the incident occurred during an occasion when she was travelling in Norton’s vehicle and she was threatened during which he showed her his firearm. In response to the allegations, Norton denied the allegations and said that he had never travelled alone with Kissoon.
Following the allegations, the PNCR’s National Congress of Women (NCW), Council of Elders and the Guyana Youth and Student Movement, had pledged to do a thorough investigation of the situation.
However, what became of the investigation was never made public.
