Leader of the Peoples’ National Congress Reform (PNCR), Aubrey Norton, believes Guyana should continue to pursue its interest and not get embroiled in the controversy brewing between the United States and Venezuela, over claims that the South American country is being led by a nacro-trafficker.

At a press conference on Friday, Mr. Norton said in the absence of evidence, he is in no position to weigh in on the strikes on suspected narco vessels in the Southern Caribbean and Pacific waters near Venezuela, and the recent move by the US to seize an oil tanker off the coast of Venezuela.  

“I support nothing that I don’t have the evidence to determine whether it is true or not. I have seen no evidence to help me to arrive at a conclusion, and unless we are privy to information that confirms claims, up until then we will take the position of looking after our interests. We do not want to become embroil in something which we don’t have the information to either substantiate or to disagree,” Norton told reporters today.

At the time, he was responding to a series of questions on the move by the US to seize an oil tanker off the coast of Venezuela, and the strikes on the suspected narco vessels out of Venezuela.

Guyana and Venezuela have been at odds for decades over a claim by Caracas to two-thirds of Guyana’s territory – a claim which Guyana has firmly rejected.

In light of the controversy, Norton said Guyana should be very careful about who and what it supports, and when, adding that any support should only emerge when the facts are available.

“What I am still to get from any side is concrete information to inform the decision that we should make.  So, in this present state, our task is to pursue our national interest and our national interest is best served at this time by doing the diplomatic work to keep Venezuela at bay, and mobilize the support of all who we can get including the United States to support us against Venezuela,” Norton said.

However, he said his party supports the fight against illegalities, but cautioned that everything must be done in the confines of the laws.

 “We support the fight against illegalities but we do not support people operating outside the confines of the law. And we believe any action taken in international relations should be taken within the confines of the law,” the PNCR Leader said.

According to Norton, the US has always been at the forefront of ensuring the rule of law, and therefore at the international level, all of the operations should be based on the rule of law.

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