Dear Editor,

WHENEVER I see the honourable Public Health Minister Dr. George Norton, I plan to give him a big embrace, and pat him on the back.I think Dr. Norton recently demonstrated the level of sincerity and statesmanship that has eluded many elevated officials for what seems like a lifetime. There’s an endemic trend in Guyanese socio-culture to find a plaster for every sore, or dodge personal responsibility. Lies, denials, pretence, and deception are just a few of the snide, subtle vices that seem to be trending our social strata.

You can catch a thief ‘red handed’ stealing mangoes from your tree, and take a picture of him mounted on the sixth branch with the bag full of mangoes in his hand; but he would deny he was the one stealing the mangoes. On the rebound, he might even accuse you of trying to rob him of the bag of mangoes he bought with his earnings, although being obviously unemployed.
This is the cunning nature of many these days.

Not so with Dr. Norton. The honourable Minister found himself embroiled and cornered in a pharmaceutical storage bond fiasco after someone ‘peeped the card’. The political opposition swung into attack mode reminiscent of blood-thirsty savages, and sought vehemently to deliver Norton, like Jesus, to the crucifix of the Parliamentary Privileges Committee.

Dr. Norton claims he was misled, even being oblivious of the inner deal surrounding the rental arrangement of the storage bond. In other words, Norton conveys the impression that he ‘sold it as he bought it’ in parliament from his sources. Well, that doesn’t really hold water when you are a politically exposed person.

I do not wish to comment on Dr. Norton’s culpability here. My interest lies in how the honourable minister handled the challenge to his office. His credibility and political future was under the microscope. The dear minister lost no time in issuing a public apology.

That was an act of humility and repentance virtually unknown in this country, especially from an erring person of prominence, moreso the minister of an incumbent government.

It clearly demonstrates the positive evolving changes in our political culture. Dr. Norton quickly recognized what was at stake: His ship of accountability had sprung a leak. His exoneration was premised by that apology for his error, and solid commitment that there will be no recurrence of this nature at his hands.

Indeed, the honourable minister should be commended for his contrite resolve towards defusing this matter of national interest. Hopefully, too, his approach can serve to guide other officials who may encounter similar challenges, or inadvertently stumble along the way. I wish Dr. Norton unhindered success for the rest of his tenure.
Regards,
ORETTE CUTTING (Mr.)