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Ar GUYANA | PNCR's Vanessa Kissoon opens up regarding sexual harassment allegations
GUYANA | PNCR's Vanessa Kissoon opens up regarding sexual harassment allegations
GEORGETOWN, Guyana, June 19, 2024 - Former executive member of the People’s National Congress Reform (PNCR) Vanessa Kissoon on Wednesday rose to the challenge by PNCR leader Aubrey Norton, to clear the air regarding allegations about her being sexually harassed by him. Norton has vehemently denied the claim by Kissoon.
In a statement, the former Member of Parliament and Councillor said while traveling in his motorcar a few years ago, Mr. Norton threatened to rape her.
According to Kissoon, “despite what Mr. Norton is now alleging, I have travelled in Mr. Norton’s car and under what I considered to be a threat to use a firearm which he had in his possession and showed to me.
Mr. Norton stopped his car, locked it, showed me his gun in his foot and asked me, "If I put this to your head and rape you, what would you do?"
I responded by saying, " I ain't afraid of you or that s#unt and you will have to $ucking k!// me."
She said while Norton did not carry out his threat “I have carried the burden of this threat, disrespect and violation for years. I did tell a few of my close confidantes. Mr. Norton has never been anything more to me than just a political comrade.”
The following is the full text of Vanessa Kissoon's Statement.
VANESSA KISSOON'S STATEMENT
June 19, 2024
PNCR Party members, supporters, fellow Guyanese, I have served the people of this country with pride at the highest level of decision making.
Many women, young people, persons of all ages, class and races look to me for leadership and expect me to do what is right. I am committed to their expectations of me as a female advocate and role model, a politician, a teacher, and most of all a mother.
There is a social media story that is taking on various proportions and shapes after a statement was released by one Egland Gomes whom I acknowledge to have had conversation with sometime back with a third party being present. I did not in said conversation approve of Mr. Gomes taking my story public for any purpose whatsoever.
Despite what Mr. Norton is now alleging, I have travelled in Mr. Norton’s car and under what I considered to be a threat to use a firearm which he had in his possession and showed to me.
Mr. Norton stopped his car, locked it, showed me his gun in his foot and asked me, "If I put this to your head and rape you, what would you do?"
I responded by saying, " I ain't afraid of you or that s#unt and you will have to $ucking k!// me."
Mr. Norton did not carry out his threats or desires, but I have carried the burden of this threat, disrespect and violation for years. I did tell a few of my close confidantes. Mr. Norton has never been anything more to me than just a political comrade.
Since my story has gone public without me initiating it, as it was my right, I state that was wrong, regardless of motive. Being forced to deal with this publicly as a result of the actions of another hurts.I can only say to those who like me are victims, do not make the same mistake as me. Take control of your experiences before others do so for you.
Mr. Norton may have missed the times we are in and the value placed in protecting women and girls. No one should be subjected to such inappropriate sexual advances and threats.
To those men and women who have allowed politics and not what is right to influence your judgment of the situation, you have a lot to learn about abuse and sexual misconduct.
I recall how vigorously some of you went after other accused but how you let down your own. Our party, our nation, needs more enlightenment and a nonpartisan approach to actions of this nature.
According to a report in Demerara Waves earlier Wednesday, the PNCR Leader deemed the statement “malicious and false,” and the allegation part of a plot to target him because he has received the largest number of nominations for the post of party leader.
“At no stage was I ever involved in sexually harassing anybody in this country or overseas,” he said. said at no time that Mr Sharma Sharma Solomon ever ask him to transport Ms Kissoon to Linden and they were never in any vehicle alone heading to that south-eastern town.”
Mr Norton told Demerara Waves Online News that Ms Kissoon’s claim that he showed her his gun and asked her for sex would not affect his decision to seek re-election at the PNCR’s Congress slated for June 28 to 30. “Absolutely not! I’m running for leader of the party,” he said.
The PNCR Leader said he would not only take legal action against party supporter, Egland Gomes, who first posted the allegation on Facebook, but also Ms Kissoon who said the incident occurred in Mr Norton’s vehicle .
She did not say when and where the alleged threat was made, but indicated that she never gave Mr Gomes permission to publish details of a conversation with him in the presence of a third party. “Since my story has gone public without me initiating it, as it was my right, I state that was wrong, regardless of motive. Being forced to deal with this publicly as a result of the actions of another hurts,” she said.
Ms Kissoon did not say whether she would now report the alleged incident to the police.
Earlier Wednesday, the PNCR Leader deemed the statement a “malicious and false” allegation, and part of a plot to target him because he has received the largest number of nominations for the post of party leader. “At no stage was I ever involved in sexually harassing anybody in this country or overseas,” he said. In addition, he said at no time Mr Sharma Sharma Solomon ever ask him to transport Ms Kissoon to Linden and they were never in any vehicle alone heading to that south-eastern town.
According to Demerara Waves Online News Norton said Ms Kissoon’s claim that he showed her his gun and asked her for sex would not affect his decision to seek re-election at the PNCR’s Congress slated for June 28 to 30. “Absolutely not! I’m running for leader of the party,” he said.
The PNCR Leader said he would not only take legal action against party supporter, Egland Gomes, who first posted the allegation on Facebook, but also Ms Kissoon who said the incident occurred in his (Norton’s) vehicle .