Georgetown: Despite a historic General and Regional Election which places Guyana for the first time ever with a minority 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 political from all indication 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 10th 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 9th Parliament.
In one of Trotman’s more revealing speeches in the 9th 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 colleague 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.”
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