Raphael Trotman unlikely for 10th Parliament

Jan 07, 2012 News

“I will not be involved in the business of playing politics or being in the Chamber for the sake of being here knowing that my ability to offer genuine representation is stymied or non-existent.”

By Gary Eleazar

Despite a historic General and Regional Election which places Guyana for the first time with a minority

AFC Executive Members Raphael Trotman

Government in Parliament and the Opposition Alliance for Change and A Partnership for National Unity with a combined majority, nothing much seems to have change in terms of the political landscape.
This conclusion can be drawn from the fact that despite a tripartite proposal in terms of working together on certain pertinent issues, there is yet to be consensus and one politician from all indications will not be drawn into the fray of the same old politics.
Raphael Trotman, the leader of the Alliance for Change, had contested the election as Prime Ministerial Candidate after his colleague Sheila Holder fell ill and died.
Trotman however, despite his party securing seven seats in the National Assembly, from all indications will not be sworn in as a Member of Parliament (MP) for the tenth Parliament expected to be convened by Head of State Donald Ramotar shortly.
According to sources, Trotman is sticking to his position that he held during the final days of the ninth Parliament.
In one of Trotman’s more revealing speeches in the ninth Parliament which expired shortly before the November 28 Election, he stated emphatically that, “I have resolved that for myself, I will not be involved in the business of “playing politics” or being in the Chamber for the sake of being here; knowing that my ability to offer genuine representation is stymied or non-existent.”
Trotman in a direct message to his fellow MPs, the then Speaker of the House Ralph Ramkarran and the populace had stated that “I have therefore resolved to only be involved in the future when there is something that is constructive and not destructive; something that is embracing and not insular; and something that is forgiving and reconciling.”
Trotman at that time had reminded that that Article 13 of the Constitution states that “The principal objective of the state is to establish an inclusionary democracy by providing increasing opportunities for the participation of citizens, and their organisations in the management and decision-making processes of the State, with particular emphasis on those areas of decision-making that directly affect their well-being”.
Trotman is on record as saying that the time has come for “us to forge a system of governance that promotes concerted effort and broad-based participation on national decision-making…we cannot maintain the Republic if we continue to practice our combative, competitive, and confrontational style of governance.”
This, according to a source, has not changed and Trotman is of the firm belief that not much progress can be made given the confrontational attitudes with which he has become disgusted still pervades with no clear indications of a change.
Trotman is of the opinion that, “Unless we have the courage to embrace our own unique form of power-sharing and inclusive governance, uniquely designed for our unique situation, we will continue to be lesser than our true potential.”
Trotman had told the House that, “we desperately need a President, (and a government), who demonstrates the capacity, ability and willingness to bridge the ethnic and political divide, to confront and address legacy issues that spurn hate and revenge; to forge a culture of accountability and acknowledgement that creates the atmosphere for forgiveness and reconciliation; and to put Guyana and all of its people first, and not ego, blind ambition, ethnicity, gender, religious belief, age, and even sexual orientation, if I am to be politically correct.”
Trotman’s substantive political career commenced over a decade ago, when he was first elected a member of the Mayor and Councillors of the capital City of Georgetown (1994). He has been a Member of Parliament since 1998.
He has since also served as Chairman of the Legal Affairs and Security Committee of the City Council, and a member of several Parliamentary Select Committees from 1999-2001, including from 2001-2005, a member of the Foreign Relations and the Constitution Reform and Standing Order Committees of Parliament.