Amid US Extradition Case: US-sanctioned Opposition Leader using politics for “self-preservation” – PNCR’s Norton

…“If we are talking about corruption, we have to oppose corruption

Leader of the People’s National Congress Reform (PNCR), Aubrey Norton, on Wednesday said that the United States sanctioned and indicted Opposition Leader, who heads the We Invest in Nationhood (WIN) party, Azruddin Mohammed, for pursuing politics primarily to protect his personal interests, particularly in his fight against being extradited to the United States, where he is currently indicted on 11 charges.

Speaking during an interview on a social media programme Tuesday, Norton argued that the WIN party is driven by Mohamed’s self-preservation rather than national development and alluded that Mohamed’s “philanthropic” pursuits are nothing more than a smoke screen.

“Mohammed’s interest here is to ensure that he isn’t extradited. We don’t have an interest in that. We have an interest in promoting the development of the people of Guyana. And where we believe that is being promoted, we will, but we will not be part of a personal fight to protect somebody who allegedly robbed this country of resources,” Norton declared as he faced questions about a combined opposition.

According to Norton, his party has no interest in becoming involved in what he described as a personal legal battle. “Unity is just a word. Unity comes when there is unity of purpose,” Norton noted.

“I am very clear in my mind that the focus here is not on making Guyanese society get a better life… It is doing the thing that will allow you to protect your interests. And therefore, in many regards the approach of the WIN… is one in which there is self-protection and the people happen to get some crumbs in the process of self-protection.”

Norton emphasised that any unity must be based on shared principles and a commitment to national development rather than individual interests.

“I believe the opposition needs to work together,” he said. “I am well prepared to unite, to be in a united opposition that pursues the interest of the people of Guyana…”

Mohammed, who launched the WIN party in May 2025, currently serves as Leader of the Opposition (LOO) after his party secured 16 seats in the 65-member National Assembly at the September 1, 2025, General and Regional Elections (GRE). His run for office came after he, his business and his father, Nazar Mohammed, were sanctioned by the United States Office of Foreign Assets Control in 2024, and shortly after, the US requested the extradition of him and his father in October 2025.

The Mohammeds are presently challenging extradition proceedings in court. Mohammed has been fighting his extradition on the grounds that it is politically motivated and orchestrated as part of political persecution against him by the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C). However, Norton says he does not believe that is the case and noted that he believes Mohammed may even be in store for further charges if he is extradited to the US.

“I do not believe the United States Government wants Azruddin for any gold or anything like that in Guyana. There are other things that they are interested in. Let us not forget that some of the indictments are disclosed. Some are undisclosed. Probably some of the undisclosed might be more important than the disclosed,” Norton hinted.

Money without fight

However, Norton, whose party has 12 seats in Parliament, argued that while financial resources are important in politics, money alone cannot sustain a political struggle.

“Money without fight creates transaction and opportunism. To fight, you need a moral commitment to fight. You need to have few or no skeletons in your closet. The fight requires a commitment to people,” Norton noted.

The APNU leader also questioned WIN’s broader policy agenda, saying the party has yet to clearly articulate its positions on major national issues. “What is the philosophy that we are supporting? What is his approach to the oil and gas sector? What is the approach to our national and natural resources? Those are the critical issues,” Norton said.

Norton further argued that many of the governance and corruption concerns now being highlighted by WIN had long been raised by APNU representatives. He also maintained that corruption should be opposed regardless of political affiliation. “If we are talking about corruption, we have to oppose corruption, regardless of who is corrupt,” Norton declared.