War of Words: VP Jagdeo Calls Dr. Dexter Todd ‘Mediocre’ — Norton Defends Attorney’s Integrity Amid Adriana Younge Case Tensions
By Travis Chase | HGP Nightly News.
GEORGETOWN, GUYANA — A political war of words has erupted over the government’s handling of the Adriana Younge investigation, with Vice President Bharrat Jagdeo and Opposition Leader Aubrey Norton trading sharp criticisms.
At a press conference on Thursday afternoon, General Secretary of the People’s Progressive Party Civic (PPP/C) and sitting Vice President Bharrat Jagdeo referred to Dr. Dexter Todd—the attorney representing Adriana Younge’s family—as “mediocre” and accused him of trying to sensationalize the child’s death.
Jagdeo appeared visibly irritated by Dr. Todd’s public demand via Facebook that the government treat Adriana’s death as a homicide, not an accidental drowning.
“He’s a piece of trash who attempts to attack everybody who exposes the PPP,” Jagdeo said, accusing Dr. Todd of political posturing.
In response, Opposition Leader Aubrey Norton came to Todd’s defense, sharply criticizing the Vice President for targeting professionals who speak out against the government.
“Jagdeo’s approach is always to tarnish the image of people who are more intelligent than him. And frankly, that’s not very difficult,” Norton said.
He added that Dr. Todd is a reputable legal professional whose work speaks for itself, pointing out that Todd previously represented former PPP Minister of Public Service Jennifer Westford in a high-profile $600 million fraud case, from which she was later acquitted.
“What Mr. Jagdeo should be doing is responding to the concerns raised by the family and their attorney—not resorting to character assassination,” Norton asserted.
“To expect him to rise to that level of maturity is to ask the impossible.”
This latest exchange reflects the deepening tension over the Adriana Younge case, which has triggered national protests, international concern, and fierce scrutiny of the Guyana Police Force. The child’s death, initially ruled as drowning, has now become the center of a heated legal, political, and social battle.
