Apology not enough for grave offence Norton committed - Dr. Anthony

Apology not enough for grave offence Norton committed – Dr. Anthony

Aug 28, 2016 News

Apology not accepted. That is basically the position being taken by the opposition People’s Progressive

Shadow Minister of Health, Dr. Frank Anthony

Party/Civic (PPP/C).
This is with regards to the recent request for forgiveness offered by Minister of Health, Dr. George Norton. Norton apologized publicly for misleading the nation.
A few weeks ago, the Minister lied to the House when questioned in the Committee of Supply about millions of dollars paid to a firearm dealer for the use of his bond to store medical supplies.
According to PPP/C’s point man on Health, Dr. Frank Anthony, Dr. Norton should be forced to resign as is the norm in other jurisdictions.
Dr. Anthony pointed out that Guyana has taken many of its laws and parliamentary traditions from the United Kingdom. He said that the code of conduct developed to guide Ministers of the British government states that any Minister found to have misled the Parliament will be expected to resign forthwith.
“We have to understand the seriousness of misleading the
National Assembly. All Members of Parliament are expected to be honest and forthright when addressing the House.”
This is the second call in recent years for the resignation of a Minister of Health.
Just in 2015, the Private Sector Commission, the Women and Gender Equality Commission, Red Thread, the Guyana Bar Association (GBA), the Guyana Women Lawyers’ Association (GWLA) and Justice Institute Guyana (JIG) had called for Dr. Bheri Ramsaran to resign from his Ministerial post.
This was after a recording had surfaced where the Minister was heard verbally assaulting and degrading

Public Health Minister, Dr. George Norton

women’s rights activist, Sherlina Nageer.
Ramsarran promised to “slap” and “strip” the woman all the while telling her that she was a little piece of “sh!t.”
The recordings went viral and calls from all sections of society were mounted for Ramsaran’s dismissal.
The GBA, the GWLA and JIG had said that former President Ramotar’s reluctance to sack Ramsaran was an indication of some form of indecency.
Both the US and British Envoys had condemned the Minister’s utterances saying that had that happened in either of their government, the person would have been expected to tender his/her resignation.
Ramotar subsequently relieved Ramsaran of his duties and appointed Dr. Jennifer Westford to act as the Minister of Health.

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