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Sep 22, 2014 News
The debate over the impending Opposition no-confidence motion has sparked an intense mudslinging campaign by a “scared” government.
This is the view of several opposition members who believe that recent allegations being made against Speaker of the National Assembly, Raphael Trotman, are part of the intensifying smear campaign by government.
They noted that the apparent “smear-campaign” comes in the wake of several threats by the People’s Progressive party’s (PPP) General Secretary, Clement Rohee to “expose the skeletons” of a senior member of the Alliance For Change. Responding in a statement to the “malicious and unfounded allegation,” Trotman yesterday insisted that there is absolutely no truth to the statements made against him by “an unstable young man.”
As he categorically denied the “wicked assertions,” the House Speaker believes that the young man who made the claims “seems to have been conveniently encouraged by manipulative and diabolic political forces.”
He said that conveniently, such scandalous assertions are obviously intended to provide a timely distraction from the serious prevailing political situation in Guyana, which imminently requires him to guide the ship of the nation’s parliament through the strongest test to Guyana’s constitutional democracy: the debate of a no confidence motion.
“As a true patriot of Guyana, I will not allow the Office of Speaker of the National Assembly to be compromised or be denigrated by false accusations for political expediency. There is absolutely no truth in the allegation, and I am confident that the masterminds and supporters of this dastardly plot will soon be exposed. I call for a thorough and professional investigation into this scurrilous allegation,” Trotman stated.
In a separate statement, the AFC said that it believes that it has unearthed a plot by the government to tarnish the reputation and character of its leaders.
The AFC said that it views the recent allegations as an attempt to create mischief by manufacturing a falsified public impression of the party and of its official. It sought to condemn this “scare tactic,” and called on its supporters to remain steadfast and not to be easily persuaded by the manipulative and heinous plans of the government.
The political party also called on the members of the PPP/C to “desist from colluding with persons who have been obviously induced to fabricate these claims.”
It also asserted that the allegations should be seen as just another desperate attempt to disrupt the tabling of the No Confidence Motion when Parliament resumes in October.
AFC Leader, Khemraj Ramjattan had also disclosed what he deemed to be reliable information that the government planned to buy-off three opposition parliamentarians at $30M each to vote against the no-confidence motion. The government has vehemently denied this allegation.
The AFC further stated that the claims against the House Speaker are also an action to attack the credibility and stature of the National Assembly, of which the minority PPP government has lost control.
The A Partnership for National Unity’s (APNU) Shadow Minister of Public Works, Joseph Harmon also sought to debunk the claims made against the Speaker, whom he described as impartial and just in his decisions.
The APNU politician said that he believes the nation’s political climate is currently in a season where the government is out to “discredit, dismantle and destroy the opposition and anyone who stands up for transparency and accountability.”
“The back of this government is against the wall. And as such, being a member of the opposition, I would expect anything from this government. We should always expect the worst from them. This allegation that is now before the Speaker is simply a reflection of how scared this government is. And they are going to utilize all their puppets and pay some a few dollars to spew lies and use the police force and other agencies to destroy those who have this country’s interest at heart. “
“This action also falls in line with the government’s attack on the media, particularly Kaieteur News and Stabroek News. Both entities have been calling for local government elections and fight daily to expose corruption and look what is happening to them. Kaieteur News has to suffer the attacks by the Guyana Revenue Authority and Stabroek is seen as unfair and unconstitutional for calling for local government elections daily.
“This is nothing but an orchestrated attempt to silence us and distract the public from the no-confidence motion. But I want to urge the citizens to not be fooled. Don’t fall for it. I want to urge the citizens to stand up against the breaches of the Constitution by this government and for its failure to hold local government elections.”
The lawyer then reminded of a basic principle in law, “a man is innocent until proven guilty,” and therefore made another call for citizens to not for one moment condemn their Speaker because of this “hasty, malicious and sickening allegation.”
Harmon also stated that he wants the public to pay keen attention to what happens to those who seek to fight against the “corrupt beast and stand for democracy and transparency and accountability.”
Trotman, during several interviews with this publication, has been candid about the failings of the parliament and how both government and opposition need to work together to repair the image of the Parliament and inspire a stronger sense of confidence in the National Assembly.
He had spoken about his disappointment in the fact that the government is not adhering to several rulings of the Assembly and is quick to run to the courts when it is displeased with a ruling of the Parliament.
Trotman had recently made it clear that should the government decide to approach the court for a judicial review that review will not be allowed to interfere during or before the parliamentary proceedings take place.
Trotman had said that it is the right of the government to bring a confidence motion and they can also ask for a judicial review.
“The confidence motion is only the reverse of the no confidence motion and from my experience, when opposition parties call for that, it is usually followed by that response from the government. Based on what I know and according to the Constitution, that would take precedence because the government’s business comes first. Either way, the House will find itself discussing the confidence entrusted in the government and either way, the matter will be settled.”
“The government can go to the court for a review but I cannot allow the court to interfere with our work for we are in unprecedented waters. A judicial review can be made after we have made our decision because they have that right but not during the time we have to make a decision or before we make our decision.”
The House Speaker had made the point on several occasions that the court should be the guardian and interpreter of the constitution.
“But I think it is being used to take a side in an argument and that is my dilemma. We really need to have a properly constituted constitutional court where both government and the opposition or even me as a Speaker can ask for a view on a matter and it shouldn’t be in the form of a challenge; Govt. vs Trotman etc. The National Assembly needs the advice and opinion of the court and it should do that and refrain from giving instructions to the Parliament,” Trotman had asserted.
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