AFC leader Raphael Trotman’s return to the National Assembly is up in the air despite the party identifying him soon after the November 28 general elections as one of its representatives in the new Parliament.
Contacted yesterday, Trotman said that he was not prepared to speak on the issue at the moment. He pointed out that he had put several proposals to the AFC leadership including one which would see him return to the National Assembly and another which would see him out and these are to be discussed. “I cannot speak definitively right now,” he said.
AFC co-leader, Khemraj Ramjattan in a brief comment told Stabroek News that he would like Trotman to return to the National Assembly as one of the two remaining founding members of the party.
He said that Trotman knew the parliamentary work, is a good speaker and can argue his cases.
An AFC source told Stabroek News that Trotman has said he will not return to Parliament citing the “adversarial” nature of the body. The source said that Trotman is holding this position despite pleading from fellow members to reconsider. “All of us are pleading that he get back in Parliament,” the source said while adding that they hope that he will reconsider.
The AFC had initially identified Ramjattan, Trotman, Moses Nagamootoo and parliamentary newcomers Cathy Hughes, Veerasammy Ramayya and youth representative Trevor Williams as its representatives in the National Assembly for the 10th Parliament with the final representative undecided.
