Raphael Trotman speaking to the media (File Photo)
GEORGETOWN, Guyana, CMC – Speaker of the National Assembly, Raphael Trotman, has dismissed allegations’ that he sexually abused a teenager nearly a decade ago, saying the accusation is linked to the vote of no confidence filed against the Donald Ramotar administration.
“Conveniently, such scandalous assertions are obviously intended to provide a timely distraction from the serious prevailing political situation in Guyana, which imminently requires me as Speaker of the National Assembly 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,” Trotman said in a statement.
The 22 year-old accuser, who first posted the allegation on the social media Facebook last Friday, claims he was sexually molested as a 13-year-old teenager and that he had decided to speak out, after trying valiantly for a settlement to no avail.
“I have waited long enough for justice and now is my time…,” the young man told the Guyana Times newspaper.
But in his statement, Trotman described the allegations as “wicked assertions” saying they were malicious and were being peddled by “an unstable young man, who appears to have a troubled mind.
Trotman, in his statement, said he would 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,” said Trotman.
Trotman, who is one of the founders of the Alliance For Change (AFC) that filed the motion of no confidence in the government. The motion has the backing of the opposition grouping, A Partnership for National Unity (APNU). The APNU and the AFC command 33 of the 65 seats in the National Assembly.
The unidentified young man has told the Guyana Times newspaper that he was not in any way manipulated by political forces, and that the time had come for him to expose the three men, including Trotman, who are responsible for what he has become.
Meanwhile, the AFC said that the accusations were aimed at tarnishing the party and its leaders.
“The Guyanese public is well aware of the campaign of attacks and vilifications of its leaders which has been waged openly perpetuated by known political elements and provocateurs acting on behalf of those to whom they are beholden,” the AFC said in a statement.
The AFC said it is now in receipt of information that the allegations against Trotman are completely fabricated and that the allegations were an attempt to create mischief by manufacturing a falsified public impression of the party and its officials.
The party said the accusations were another “desperate and reprehensible attempt” to disrupt the tabling of the No-Confidence Motion when Parliament resumes in October.
