AG implicated in “sex allegations” scheme against Speaker – AFC
General Secretary of the Alliance For Change (AFC), David Patterson has revealed that Attorney General (AG),
Anil Nandlall who had initially denied any participation in the “sexual abuse allegations” scheme against House Speaker, Raphael Trotman, may be more involved than the public is aware.
Patterson made this disclosure during the party’s press conference yesterday which was held at the Georgetown Club.
The AFC member said the party is in receipt of information which indicates that Johnny Antony Welshman Jnr., the “troubled accuser” at the centre of the allegations against Trotman, was directed to seek representation from Jaya Manickchand by a senior official of a government ministry.
He later revealed that this senior official was none other than, the “honourable” Minister of Legal Affairs, Anil Nandlall.
Patterson asserted, “Mr. Trotman, following receipt of the information, contacted the head of the ministry and member of Cabinet via telephone and asked for an explanation. The senior government functionary, at that time, denied any involvement. About 45 minutes afterward, the senior government functionary returned a telephone call to Mr. Trotman confirming that an official in his office did meet with Mr. Welshman and further directed him to Ms. Manickchand who is the sister of Minister of Education Priya Manickchand and a former PPP nominated GECOM Commissioner.”
He said too that the AFC has received information that apart from the involvement of the staff, the senior government official, Nandlall, “was himself directly involved in the falsification of the allegations leveled against Mr. Trotman and the overall scheme to tarnish his reputation.”
Patterson said that his party strongly believes that the allegations are nothing more than “a dastardly scheme to avert the impending No Confidence Motion.”
Trevor Williams of the Youth For Change also sought to reaffirm confidence in the House Speaker and stated that he strongly
believes that the “plot” is “only politically motivated” and meant to tarnish the reputation of the Speaker and intended to “derail from the good work done by the AFC.”
Trotman, who was present at the press conference yesterday, was asked whether the police had made contact with him in relation to the allegations. However, one of his legal advisors, Nigel Hughes made it clear that he had specifically asked Trotman not to address any question in relation to the matter so as to avoid creating prejudice with regard to any aspect of the matter that is currently being investigated.
Nandlall subsequently released a statement last night in relation to his involvement in the matter. He said, “It is with utter shock that I learnt that I am the latest casualty in a long list of persons implicated by the AFC, in the sexual abuse scandal in which Trotman is currently embroiled. I wish to absolutely and categorically deny any involvement in, or connection with, either directly or indirectly, the said sexual assault fiasco.”
The Minister said too that on Tuesday, long after the allegations of sexual misconduct against Trotman were made public, he spoke with the House Speaker via telephone.
“As a result of that conversation, I made certain inquiries of the staff at the Attorney-General’s Chambers. Those inquiries revealed the following: that approximately one week before, Welshman , a person, whom to date I have never seen or spoken with, met State Counsel , Leslyn Noble at the said Chambers; I learnt that these two persons had known each other long before and enjoyed some degree of acquaintance. I obviously was not present at, or authorized the holding of that meeting, and indeed only became aware that these persons knew each other and met at the AG Chambers when I made those aforesaid inquiries. To date I am unaware of the reason for that engagement and the content of any discussion which may have taken place thereof.”
He made clear that he did not solicit any information regarding the nature of the discussion which took place because he formed the opinion that it was of a personal nature.