BREAKING: DPP discontinues PPP’s private charges against Ministers Lawrence and Norton

In a statement, the DPP said "the private criminal charges for the offence of Misconduct in Public Office, contrary to the Common Law instituted against Ministers Volda Lawrence and George Norton were discontinued by the Director of Public Prosecutions under Article 187 (1) ( c) of the Constitution of the Cooperative Republic of Guyana".

BREAKING:   DPP discontinues PPP’s private charges against Ministers Lawrence and Norton

The Director of Public Prosecutions has discontinued the private criminal charges instituted against Health Minister Volda Lawrence and Social Cohesion Minister, Dr. George Norton.

The decision by the DPP which was announced this afternoon comes one day before the two were expected to appear in Court to have the charges read to them. They will no longer have to appear.

The private charges for misconduct in public office were filed against the two by the People’s Progressive Party through two of its Members of Parliament.

In a statement, the DPP said “the private criminal charges for the offence of Misconduct in Public Office, contrary to the Common Law instituted against Ministers Volda Lawrence and George Norton were discontinued by the Director of Public Prosecutions under Article 187 (1) ( c) of the Constitution of the Cooperative Republic of Guyana”.

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”.

PPP Member of Parliament Anil Nandlall filed the charges without first filing a police complaint. He said he decided to file the private charges of misconduct in public office after the Special Organised Crime Unit of the Police Force filed charges against two former PPP Government officials, Dr. Ashni Singh and Winston Brassington.

Those charges will proceed.

The DPP will now have to deal with the new charges filed by Nandall against three other Government Ministers this morning.

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