Norton goes ahead with defamation lawsuit against Odessa Primus

Last Updated on Saturday, 21 March 2026, 14:54 by Writer

Leader of the People’s National Congress Reform (PNCR) and A Partnership for National Unity (APNU), Aubrey Norton says he is going ahead with a GY$10 million lawsuit against General Secretary of We Invest in Nationhood (WIN), Odessa Primus.

He said he did not need money but he was compelled to take every step to clear his name of corruption. “It’s not a priority in my life. But if you decide you will damage my character by accusing me of taking money from the PPP and Bharrat Jagdeo, it’s a different ballgame,” he told a news conference on Friday.

Mr Jagdeo is General Secretary of the ruling People’s Progressive Party Civic and Second Vice President of Guyana

Mr Norton said he was determined to clear his name and protect his integrity although Ms Primus, through her lawyer, Eusi Anderson, denied ever saying that Mr Norton had taken money from Mr Jagdeo in a Facebook post dated January 30, 2026.

Mr Anderson told Mr Norton’s Attorney-at-Law, Dexter Smartt that the “only sentence that can remotely be pregnant with the meaning your client imputed is this sentence: ‘Tell your people who collecting Bharrat money'”.

Mr Anderson questioned, among other things, whether Ms Primus said in that question that Mr Norton collected monies from Mr Jagdeo.

Stopping short of questioning the source of funds, Mr Norton says if he wins the defamation lawsuit he will donate the money to charity.

“I believe I’ll win the case and the money will go to charity. I am not inclined to take money that I’m not so sure come from the legal processes in Guyana and so I will be inclined to let that go to charity and people in need,” he said.

WIN’s leader, Azruddin Mohamed, and his father have been sanctioned by the United States (US) for alleged gold smuggling and related tax evasion from the Guyana government.

They are also wanted in the US for trial for mail fraud, wire fraud and money laundering.

Mr Norton emphasised that “I was not lured into politics by money” but entered the arena with a commitment to serve Guyana.

He said he spent his political life campaigning on this “which I could say is still intact.”

“No politician, no businessman can truthfully say they bribed me in any fashion. Even in my days in the public service, I have avoided getting involved in anything,” he said.