In Guyanese politics, Aubrey Norton emerges as a polarizing figure. He champions a divisive agenda that threatens to deepen ethnic tensions and undermine the country’s progress toward unity and equality. If left unchecked, Norton’s agenda could lead to a fractured society, hindered development, and lost trust in the political system.
Since assuming the role of Leader of the Opposition of the PNC party and member of the National Assembly in April 2022, Norton has stirred controversy with his unabashed bias and discriminatory tactics, mainly targeting the Indo-Guyanese leaders, community, and other minorities who together are the majority in Guyana.
Aubrey Norton’s alarming lack of understanding of his PNC party history is a cause for concern. The party has a long-standing reputation for rigging elections, a legacy that dates to Forbes Burnham. Burnham taught Robert Mugabe how to rig elections. Norton’s ignorance of this history is worrying and could lead to the perpetuation of such practices.
At the core of Norton’s political strategy lies a sinister objective: to consolidate power for the Afro-Guyanese population by marginalizing and excluding Indians from key sectors of society. Echoing the sentiments of his mentor, former leader Forbes Burnham, Norton harbours a deep-seated hatred towards Indian Guyanese, allegedly seeking to purge them from positions of influence and authority.
Norton’s modus operandi is one of exclusion and discrimination, as he advocates for a systemic overhaul that would disproportionately favour Afro-Guyanese individuals in professions ranging from the military and police force to civil service, education, and even parliament. This dangerous rhetoric perpetuates divisiveness and undermines the principles of meritocracy and equal opportunity upon which any democratic society should stand.
Aubrey Norton’s silence on the issue of unequal opportunities is not only concerning but infuriating. Why are most Indo-Guyanese and others not given the same opportunities in key sectors? Why does a minority in Guyana control all the civil servants’ jobs? Norton’s evasion of these questions highlights an unjust system discriminating against most of the Guyanese population.
Today, the Afro-Guyanese control the entire Guyanese establishment. Forbes Burnham created this unfair system to keep his Afro-Guyanese in good pensionable jobs and happy to the detriment of the other Guyanese communities.
The Police Consists of 85% Afro- -Guyanese,
The Civil servants consist of 75% Afro-Guyanese,
The Army consists of 90% Afro- -Guyanese,
The Teaching profession is 80% Afro-Guyanese,
The Nurses are 75% Afro-Guyanese,
The Fire brigade workers are over 85% Afro-Guyanese.
Nearly 75% of the airport’s workers are Afro-Guyanese.
Norton should pledge to address this imbalance by advocating for a more equitable distribution of opportunities, ensuring representation that reflects Guyana’s diverse population.
His silence on the issue of unequal opportunities is not only concerning but also infuriating. The systemic discrimination against Indo-Guyanese and other minority communities in key sectors highlights an unjust system perpetuated by past PNC governments.
This would change the discriminatory policy Forbes Burnham, and all previous PNC governments adopted against other Guyanese citizens. If changes happen, the system would be fairer for all Guyanese in the 21st century.
Recent incidents further illustrate Norton’s willingness to sow discord and exploit socioeconomic disparities for political gain. A notable example is his selective showcasing of poverty during a BBC reporter’s guided tour. By deliberately omitting visits to predominantly Indian areas, Norton revealed his ulterior motives and underscored his disregard for journalistic integrity and fair representation.
Everybody with some intelligence knows that the Western media and Television like to portray other developing countries in a terrible light because they must satisfy their country’s audience by saying that look here, you are better off than those in the developing countries.
Western media and television do not like to show the world about their people sleeping in the streets of London and using cardboard boxes as shelter. The UK food bank is for those who cannot afford meals and have no food to eat. More English people sleep in the streets of London and beg than in Guyana. You might have 50 beggars in Georgetown, but there are thousands in London.
Western Media and television do not want you to know that their Western countries are going down the drain. They are ashamed of their poor people and still pretend to have an empire, but in the real world, they are nothing these days.
Aubrey Norton’s lack of knowledge of the Western media is apparent. He took the BBC reporter to the poorest part of Georgetown, where black people reside. Norton thought he was making a political point by saying that his black people are suffering under the present Indo-Guyanese government. Instead, he degraded these innocent Afro-Guyanese to the world. This is precisely what the reporter wanted to see, film, and broadcast to his British audience.
These innocent Afro-Guyanese have been living there for many years. Why is it that the Granger government, for five years in power, did nothing for them, and the PNC mayors forever in power in Georgetown have not done a thing for these poor people for years? Why? Norton. Why? Your own PNC Presidents in power for years did nothing for these Afro-Guyanese.
Norton did not take the reporter to the affluent area where the Afro-Guyanese live! What a shame!
Recently, the Indo-Guyanese government gave a bank license to an Afro-Guyanese, two oil blocks worth billions of USD to four Afro-Guyanese, 60 acres of land to the black caucus, new appointments for former PNC Afro-Guyanese supporters, and lands to a few Afro–Guyanese to build hotels and office blocks, to name a few.
Furthermore, Aubrey Norton must understand that two powerful countries are taking over the role of Western powers in global affairs. They are two Asian giants: India and China. Aubrey Norton must understand this reality of world politics.
In short, we would advise Aubrey Norton to travel a bit. Go to Africa and see what China and India are doing to improve the standard of living of Africans. Also, see how highly the leaders of Africa have praised Mr. Modi and XI Ping. Get out of your inner world and learn about the world’s two new influential leaders and what they are doing for the continent of Africa, where we presume Aubrey Norton’s ancestor came from.
Aubrey Norton must understand that Guyana does not belong to one community only.
Most Guyanese are from India, China, Portugal, and Africa. However, the indigenous people of Guyana are the Amerindians. Aubrey Norton cannot change the reality of history. The quicker Norton learns his African History, the better his understanding of his ancestors who came from Africa will be.
There are many Afro-Guyanese who are ashamed to say that they are from the continent of Africa. Why? Maybe they are ashamed of Africa.
We understand that both Indians and Chinese Guyanese in Guyana were called “Collies” by the Afro-Guyanese during Burnham time, and what an irony that today, the two new global powers and leaders are from these two Asian communities.
Moreover, Norton’s lack of decorum and respect for the presidency was on full display when he openly refused to shake hands with the incumbent President, Irfaan Ali, solely because of the latter’s Indian origin.
Such childish behaviour reflects poorly on Norton as a politician and sets a dangerous precedent for inter-ethnic relations in Guyana.
In the face of Norton’s divisive agenda, it is imperative for all Guyanese citizens, irrespective of ethnicity, to condemn such tactics and reaffirm their commitment to a pluralistic and inclusive society. Unity, not division, should be the guiding principle as Guyana navigates its path towards progress and prosperity.
As Norton continues to pursue his agenda of exclusion and prejudice, it is incumbent upon the people of Guyana to reject such divisive politics and strive towards a future where every citizen is valued and empowered, regardless of ethnicity or background. Only through collective effort and solidarity can Guyana realize its true potential as a harmonious and equitable nation.
Aubrey Norton is a replica of Forbes Burnham, and he is following his master, who rigged every election during his dictatorial reign. Dead Guyanese from London were voting for Burnham. How can the voters in Guyana forget this undemocratic way of robbing the voters in Guyana? Again, in 2020, PNC supporters tried to rig the general election, but the global community caught the riggers red-handed.
Guyana voters are still waiting for Aubrey Norton to apologize for his PNC supporters rigging the last general election. Until he does, no one will trust him or take him seriously.
The “Nouveau riche” and intellectual Afro-Guyanese despise Aubrey Norton. These new Afro-Guyanese supporters of the PPP party know that President Irfaan Ali, Prime Minister Mark Phillips, and Vice-President Bharrat Jagdeo tirelessly work for the citizens of Guyana, unlike Aubrey Norton, who has not received much support amongst the Afro-Guyanese except from a few in Linden and some quarters in Georgetown.
Norton’s behaviour, reminiscent of Forbes Burnham’s divisive tactics, undermines trust in the democratic process and hampers national progress. Norton’s credibility will remain questioned until he acknowledges past wrongs and embraces inclusive politics.
Ultimately, the people of Guyana must reject divisive politics and work towards a future where every citizen is valued and empowered, regardless of ethnicity or background. Through collective effort, Guyana can only realize its true potential as a harmonious and equitable nation.
The Afro-Guyanese voters understand Guyana politics better than Aubrey Norton, who they regard as an opportunist, non-entity, and a waste of space in Guyanese politics.
Finally, Aubrey Norton has no chance of winning the next general election in 2025.