By: Antonio Dey | HGP Nightly News |
Leader of the People’s National Congress Reform (PNCR) and veteran foreign affairs expert Aubrey Norton is calling on the government to strengthen border security and regional cooperation in light of rising concerns over illegal crossings, trafficking, and the recent terror attack at Sol Station in Georgetown.
Norton, who spent more than two decades at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, stressed that Guyana’s porous borders—especially along the Cuyuni and Wenamu Rivers—remain vulnerable to arms trafficking and infiltration by non-state actors. He urged the government to work more closely with Caribbean and Latin American partners to reinforce surveillance and law enforcement efforts.
“We need a proper system to check every Venezuelan who is entering. You don’t want to be anti-Venezuelan, but we must ensure the Venezuelan government is not allowing operatives into our land,” Norton said during an exclusive interview with HGPTV Nightly News.
His remarks come on the heels of the deadly explosion at the Sol gas station, which claimed the life of six-year-old Soraya Bourne. Police have since confirmed that the main suspect, a Venezuelan national, confessed to the bombing.
Norton, however, questioned the credibility of the confession, insisting that law enforcement must rely on forensic evidence rather than mere statements.
“If the police had said they linked this DNA, and from these cameras they saw XYZ, I would have been satisfied. But to tell me this man confessed in a short while—it doesn’t come over as credible to me,” he remarked.
He further called for the establishment of a comprehensive immigration policy, stressing that proper vetting and monitoring must apply not only to Venezuelans but to all foreign entrants.
“The situation regarding Venezuela is multifaceted. We need a proper immigration policy that covers everyone entering our nation,” Norton added.
Drawing on his academic background as a lecturer in international relations at the University of Guyana, Norton emphasized the need for “multinationalism” — a coordinated approach involving regional collaboration and mutual support among neighboring states.
At the recent 12th sitting of the National Assembly, Norton joined fellow PNCR member Amanza Walton-Desir in urging the government to strengthen patrols and intelligence-sharing mechanisms to deter illegal activity along Guyana’s borders, particularly in Eteringbang and Kaikan.
He also expressed concern over public confidence in the Guyana Police Force, noting widespread skepticism about the integrity of senior officers amid allegations of corruption and bribery attempts by Venezuelan nationals.
“If people don’t trust the top of the Police Force, and if there are all these rumours about Venezuelans trying to bribe or corrupt officials, then it becomes critical to develop a force with credible leadership that the public can believe in,” Norton stated.
The Opposition Leader concluded by reaffirming his party’s commitment to ensuring national security, transparency, and the safety of all Guyanese citizens, particularly those living in vulnerable border regions.
