‘Sugar done,… cannabis in’ remark : “These things happen” – Norton downplays policy inconsistencies among APNU members

Leader of the A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) Aubrey Norton has indicated that it is normal for there to be inconsistencies in policy positions among members of a coalition party.
His comments were made on Friday in response to questions surrounding the difference in positions between himself and coalition member Leon Saul regarding the future of the sugar industry.

During APNU’s campaign launch on Sunday, member Leon Saul declared, “Sugar done, hemp and cannabis in… When the oil is done, hemp and cannabis will still be growing.” In fact, Saul represents a political party called “Legalise Cannabis Guyana”, which forms part of the APNU.
In a statement the following day, APNU contradicted Saul’s announcements.
Commenting on this, Norton expressed that, “What Leon Saul would have said, we have put out a press statement making it very clear that it was his personal view and not that of the APNU. You’re well aware when you’re dealing with coalition type politics, these things can happen.”
According to Norton, only his expressed positions on issues can be considered that of the APNU. “The official position from the APNU come from the leader/chairman of the APNU who happens to be Aubrey Norton”.
In its statement after Saul’s comments, the APNU said “the APNU Coalition has absolutely no intention of closing down GUYSUCO and abandoning sugar.”
The APNU’s statement in itself contradicts an earlier position from the party.
In August 2024, Norton had revealed that an APNU Administration would downsize the sugar industry.
“I believe that sugar has to be produced in limited quantities,” Norton had stated during a Globespan 24X7 programme.