– notes businessman’s political interest is driven by self-preservation, not national development

FORMER Opposition Leader and Leader of the People’s National Congress Reform (PNCR), Aubrey Norton, has noted that his party will not be part of a fight to protect the current U.S.-indicted opposition leader, Azruddin Mohamed, from extradition.
Norton made this known during a recent interview, during which he rejected suggestions that Mohamed possesses the political resolve needed to challenge the government, contending that money alone does not constitute a political fight.
“There were many who were saying, ‘Mohamed gon take the fight to them.’ So I find it fascinating that now you’re saying he ain’t got fight, but he got money. Garbage,” Norton said.
Against this backdrop, Norton indicated that genuine political leadership requires moral conviction, commitment to people and a clean record.
“To fight, you need a moral commitment. To fight, you have to have little or no skeletons in your closet. To fight, you have to have a commitment to people,” he stated.
He argued that if allegations that Mohamed deprived Guyana of billions of dollars in revenue are true, then isolated acts of philanthropy cannot compensate for the wider impact on national development.
However, Norton stated that while he believes that there should be greater co-operation among opposition forces, such collaborations cannot come at the expense of ignoring the serious allegations surrounding the opposition leader.
“Let me say it here and now, I believe the opposition needs to work together, but not by burying our heads in the sand,” Norton said.
He went on to note that Mohamed’s primary objective is to avoid extradition proceedings rather than advance the interests of Guyanese citizens.
“Mohamed’s interest here is to ensure that he isn’t extradited. We don’t have an interest in that,” Norton declared.
He said that the opposition’s responsibility is to advocate for policies and initiatives that improve the lives of citizens, not to shield individuals facing allegations of wrongdoing.
“We have an interest in promoting the development of the people of Guyana,” he said.
“Where we believe that that is being promoted, we will, but we will not be part of a personal fight to protect somebody who allegedly robbed this country of resources.”