The People’s Progressive Party on Monday afternoon said that it is not surprised with the Director of Public Prosecution’s decision to discontinue private criminal charges against Ministers Volda Lawrence and George Norton.

The charges were filed in the Magistrate’s Court last week by two PPP Members of Parliament, but a release from the DPP’s Chambers this morning announced that DPP Shalimar Ali Hack has discontinued the charges.

According to the DPP, the charges concern a grave issue under the criminal law in relation to two serving Ministers and “in the interest of good governance in the State of Guyana such allegations ought first to have been reported to the Guyana Police Force for an investigation to be launched and the advice of the DPP sought”.

Speaking to reporters outside the Office of the Leader of the Opposition, PPP MP Juan Edghill said if the Party must go to the Police, it is prepared to do so.

“But I would have thought that a responsible government with a well-staffed Chambers of the Attorney General would be prepared to stand and explain to the people of Guyana why these charges are malicious as states instead of hiding behind the process of the DPP.”

Edghill said if the government beleives there is no misconduct then “let the drums beat and see how the rhythms go.”

The charges against Lawrence and Norton were discontinued hours after new charges were filed against three other government Ministers on Monday.

Meanwhile, former Attorney General Anil Nandlall in a statement said the charges, both against sitting and former government officials, have put to test the independence of the DPP’s Chambers

He believes the DPP’s move to discontinue the charges smacks of discrimination and equality before the law.

“I did say that these cases will test the independence of the office of the DPP. They have,” he said.

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