Sexual allegations against Speaker…Plot against AFC backfiring on schemers
- Ramjattan
By Abena Rockcliffe
Members of the Alliance For Change (AFC) are convinced that the People Progressive Party (PPP) administration is the force behind sexual allegations made against co-founder of the Party and House Speaker, Raphael Trotman. However, they are being comforted by the fact that there has so far been no sign of dwindling support resulting from this saga. AFC leader, Khemraj Ramjattan told Kaieteur News that the plot is “now rebounding back into the face of the government.” He said that this is because of the several loopholes or discrepancies in the statements of Trotman’s accuser—Johnny Welshman Jnr. Another AFC member said that these discrepancies are more than eleven in number and pointed out some of these to be the number of times the offences allegedly occurred; the different ages of the accuser when the offences allegedly occurred and the sums of money allegedly offered to settle the matter.
AFC leader, Khemraj Ramjattan
Ramjattan told Kaieteur News that, “frankly, the political motivation to do damage to the Speaker is something that is making a lot of Guyanese question the integrity of this government.” He said that quite unlike what the PPP expected, the support of the AFC, from what he has been able to track, is by no means dwindling. “It has not done any harm because of the fact that when I walk the streets people tell me that they do not believe a word; they know that they (Govt.) is lying on the Speaker… thousands have come to the realization that it is pure scampishness on the part of the government.” Ramjattan said that Guyanese are upset and betrayed to the extent where, from his estimation, the PPP administration is “going to pay a big price for setting this thing up just to tarnish and besmirch the character of the Speaker of the National Assembly.” General Secretary of the AFC, David Patterson spoke in harmony with the views expressed by his leader. Patterson said that AFC members who reside in the various administrative Regions of Guyana have, since the allegation was made public, written several letters reaffirming their commitment to the Party as well as their faith in Trotman. “The people in Region Two are disgusted by what is happening. They reminded of the happenings when similar tactics were used against them when they had the simple protest action for the paddy prices.” The General Secretary said that the AFC has also been in receipt of letters from Regions Five, Six and Nine. “I think this whole scheme actually galvanized support for our Party and time has proved that it was not a very well thought out plot,” said Patterson. Last Friday, Trevor Williams, on behalf of the Youth For Change—AFC’s youth arm—told the media that all support is behind Trotman. Prepared for what comes next AFC Leader, Ramjattan told Kaieteur News that his Party is fully prepared for most aspects of what is expected to come next and is on the verge of upping security protection for its members. The Attorney-at-Law said that it is well known – the measures that the PPP can go to when its back is against the wall. He added that the AFC expected the mudslinging to start so the Trotman allegation didn’t come as a surprise. Ramjattan said that all executive members of the AFC are bracing themselves as they all know that anyone of them can be next. “We knew that this was going to come because this is the way they (the PPP administration) do it. You may recall a number of occurrences of the last elections, the cocaine in pepper sauce allegation and the allegations that came against me; a number of things happened at the last elections; and knowing the PPP, we expected them again,” said Ramjattan. The political leader added that members of his Party are looking to make every preparation for their security with knowledge of what the PPP is capable of.