FORMER People’s National Congress (PNC) Parliamentarian, Vanessa Kissoon, made an explosive and telling admission to the public about the Opposition Leader and incumbent PNC party leader, Aubrey Norton.
Responding to Norton’s call to set the record straight, Kissoon alleged that she was the victim of sexual harassment at his hands. She also alleged that Norton threatened to rape her with the use of a gun.
The woman activist and teacher said though Norton did not act on his alleged threats, she felt hurt and carried the burden of his threats, disrespect and violation “for years.”

Kissoon, breaking down in tears, also alleged that she never permitted anyone to tell her story but she did not deny the contents of that story. “No person should be subjected to such inappropriate sexual advances and the use of threats,” she said telling others that they have a lot to learn and unlearn about the reality of sexual misconduct, sexual harassment, and violation in the realm of politics and society.
Two days later, the PNC said to the media it had organised a Council of the Elders to investigate this allegation which it deemed serious.

Firstly, Kissoon’s allegations of sexual harassment and gun threats are dreadful and telling just like the allegations made against any other politician, man or woman. They deserve to be treated seriously and should be probed by the Guyana Police Force and the relevant civil society organisations, as well as, non-governmental organisations.
The victim is already having to relive her alleged trauma in public and the PNC is totally out of order to even suggest that it will insert itself in this case. The PNC party should not be seen condoning sexual harassment at any level. It should ask Norton to step aside and postpone the upcoming Congress pending the outcome of this particular matter.

Nothing else will do and the opposition party will enjoy the public’s full support and confidence in doing the right thing as challenging as it may seem.
Secondly, the public and party leadership do not have any confidence in this so-called Council of Elders, of which Hamilton Green is a part and seems to be steering. Anything that this rigging man is involved in is highly suspicious and irregular. He is close to the leader and should step aside from being a part of the sham parade.

Now, Volda Lawrence too should be ashamed for being a part of this Council and dragging the PNC Women’s Arm into this drama. As a former Minister of Social Protection, Lawrence knows too well what is the ordeal women face when making allegations of sexual violation against men like Norton. It is more than disappointing that Lawrence and other senior women did not offer support to Kissoon and some form of counselling at the least.

Kissoon is hurting, broken and shattered while Lawrence, Green and the other PNC members are busy with their preparations for Congress. This is happening before our eyes. This is what the PNC under Norton is becoming, cruel and emotionless.

From the verbiage used at the hastily called press conference on Friday, it does not seem like Green and Lawrence believe the story told by Kissoon. This is sad and most unfortunate but it is telling that the party would go to the lengths to cover up this scandal and allegations of sexual harassment allegedly by its leader but would not have the same energy for the victim.

Thirdly, Kissoon continues to be violated and wronged by her party’s leadership for her outspoken and candid way. Kissoon was suspended wrongfully already in the PNC and was made to resign from certain key portfolios in Linden during the period 2008 to 2017. The party can ill-afford to treat this allegation badly. It must not let this allegation be swept under the carpet simply because a leadership challenge is looming and Congress is coming.

The PNC must know that putting together this Kangaroo Court of party geriatrics will not fool anyone or will not have a diversionary impact on the public. They cannot weather this storm so easily and the earthquake is yet to be known that is coming at the congress that will threaten to upset the status quo.

Finally, Norton is innocent until proven guilty by an acceptable tribunal of law. Equally, Kissoon’s story is true until proven otherwise by acceptable parties. The PNC is wrong to arrogate to itself the job of being the jury and making recommendations. A competent legal and impartial probe is necessary in the extant matter.

Norton is concerned that this case will impact the membership of the party and his chances of winning the leadership of the party. He doesn’t care about the act and his image; he is seemingly more concerned about the Congress race that he is allegedly rigging. And, the public is waiting patiently on organisations like the Red Thread and a group of women’s rights activists to come forward and condemn the alleged act of sexual inappropriateness committed by Norton. Waiting with bated breath. If the shoe was on the foot on the other side, there would have been a mountain of statements and protests already. Wrong cannot be right!