Leader of the Opposition, Aubrey Norton continues to call the Government out on the issue of corruption.

At a press conference today, Mr. Norton said the ruling administration has done more to condone corruption than to fight it. He told reporters that corruption in the public procurement system should come as no surprise to citizens. He said although there have been allegations of corruption leveled against a number of senior Government officials, those allegations are never investigated.

 “Jagdeo was not investigated for corruption after the infamous Vice News documentary fingered him in an alleged bribery and corruption scheme. 2. The President himself was charged for fraud and had the 19 fraud charges against him dropped by the government itself and not by the Court, though there was a prima facie case made out against him,” the Opposition Leader said.

He reminded that although Police Commissioner, Clifton Hicken admitted that he solicited funds from “stakeholders” to fund the wedding of his Assistant Commissioner of Police, Calvin Brutus, he was never investigated.

“If the country’s two most prominent Government politicians and the most prominent law enforcement officer can all escape investigation despite alarming corruption red flags, then why would any corrupt official or business believe that they will be held accountable? The corrupt PPP regime, outside of a witch hunt cannot hold anyone accountable,” Norton said. 

Mr. Norton said just last year the International Monetary Fund recommended that the Guyana Government strengthens the anti-corruption framework in line with international standards.  

He said no one is fooled by the Government’s claims that it has been fighting corruption.

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