– political analysts
THE recent reported suggestion by Alliance For Change (AFC) Leader Raphael Trotman for opposition parties to boycott next year’s general elections may reflect fears of a poor showing at the polls, observers said yesterday.

It may also be associated with his party’s leadership crisis, they said.

Trotman was recently reported as saying in the Stabroek News that opposition parties should not participate in the elections if the government fails to agree to an independent probe into the operations of the alleged ‘Phantom Gang’ in Guyana earlier this decade.

An Executive member of the main Opposition People’s National Congress Reform (PNCR) said Trotman’s proposal was suspicious, adding that while his party demands the inquiry it will not fall for the AFC’s nonsensical position.

Political analysts believe the AFC may be using the call for an inquiry to dodge the elections because of its internal leadership crisis which has led to a decline in support for the party.

“Trotman may be using the inquiry in a surreptitious manner to deny Khemraj Ramjattan the party’s presidential candidacy for the elections”, an observer suggested.

There has been a serious internal battle between the two leaders for the candidacy and analysts believe the worst is yet to come.

Party insider said that while there is heavy campaigning for Trotman to secure the presidential candidacy, there is strong opposition against such a move which will solidify the view that the AFC is discriminating against a particular group.