Former Minister of Public Health, Dr. George Norton, was on Tuesday charged with misconduct in public office by the Special Organised Crime Unit (SOCU).
An audit with respect to the rental of the Lot 29 Sussex Street, Albouystown warehouse facility, and which covered the period 1st July, 2016 to 30th June, 2019 was conducted by the Audit Office of Guyana.
Pursuant to the said audit, the matter was then forwarded to the Special Organised Crime Unit (SOCU) where investigations revealed that in 2016, the then Minister of Public Health Dr. George Norton unlawfully instructed Trevor Thomas (Permanent Secretary) of the said Ministry NOT to engage the National Procurement and Tender Administration Board (NPTAB) with respect to the tender and/or any submission of any justification for a single source award to Linden Holding Inc. for the rental of the Lot 29 Sussex Street, Albouystown warehouse facility, for storage of pharmaceuticals, in accordance with the Procurement Act. Cap. 73:01.
According to a police release, it was unearthed that George Norton allegedly further instructed Trevor Thomas to prepare a Cabinet Memorandum for him to take to Cabinet for its deliberation on the matter. Thereafter, Trevor Thomas received a copy of Cabinet’s decision awarding a contract to Linden Holding Inc. for the rental of its property located at Lot 29 Sussex Street, Albouystown, Georgetown, for storage of pharmaceuticals. Trevor Thomas was further instructed by Dr. Norton to sign the contract for the rental of the Sussex Street Bond which he did, the police release stated.
The Agreement of Tenancy was made on the 20th day of July 2016 between Linden Holding Inc., a company registered under the Companies Act, Cap. 89:01 Laws of Guyana, with its registered office and place of business situate at Lot 1 Brickdam, Georgetown and the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Public Health, for a period of three (3) years commencing 1st June 2016, at a monthly rent of twelve million five hundred thousand dollars (GYD$12,500,000).
An advance payment of thirty-seven million five hundred thousand dollars (GYD$37,500,000) was paid to Linden Holding Inc. (Landlord). This payment represents 2 months’ rent and 1 month’s security deposit.
Norton appeared before Chief Magistrate Ann McLennan at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court, where he was not required to plead to the charges as they were indictable.
Norton was represented by attorney-at-law Nigel Hughes and Marissa Leander. He was placed on $400,000 bail, required to lodge his passport and the matter was adjourned to April 27, 2021.
