SPEAKER of the National Assembly, Mr. Raphael Trotman yesterday was empathic in his denial of claims that he sexually assaulted a young man, made on the popular social media site, FaceBook.

“A malicious and unfounded allegation of sexual molestation has been made against me by an unstable young man, who, sadly, appears to have a troubled mind. I categorically deny his wicked assertions,” the Speaker said in a statement.
Trotman has since called for a “thorough and professional” investigation into the “scurrilous” allegation.
According to him, the young man seems to have been “conveniently encouraged by manipulative and diabolic political” forces.
“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,” he said.
The Speaker reiterated that there is “absolutely no truth” in the allegation, and expressed confidence that the masterminds and supporters of what he termed a “dastardly plot” will soon be exposed.
“As a true patriot of Guyana, I will not allow the office of Speaker of the National Assembly to be compromised or be denigrated by false accusations for political expediency…God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble,” Trotman said.
ATTEMPT TO TARNISH LEADERS

Trotman’s party, the Alliance for Change, of which he is an Executive Member, has also rejected the allegations, charging like him that the untruths stem from politically motivated attempts to tarnish the party and its leaders.
In a statement, yesterday, Party General Secretary, Mr. David Patterson, said, “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.”
He added: “…the AFC is in receipt of information that a completely fabricated accusation of sexual abuse of a minor is being initiated against one of its senior members, Raphael Trotman. The party views this as an attempt to create mischief by manufacturing a falsified public impression of the party of its official.”
Patterson said the Party condemns, in the strongest possible terms, the “reprehensible exploitation” of a heinous crime against minors for political purposes.
It has since laid blame at the door of the ruling party, claiming collusion with the persons who were “induced” to spout fabricated claims.
Patterson noted that the AFC views the false allegations as an “integral element of the political maneuverings” to attack the credibility and stature of the National Assembly, where the ruling party holds a minority.
“This accusation, the party views as another desperate and reprehensible attempt to disrupt the tabling of the No-Confidence Motion when Parliament resumes in October,” the party’s General-Secretary said.
The first page of the no-confidence motion, which has been forwarded to the National Assembly by the AFC, reads: “Be it resolved that this National Assembly has no confidence in the Government.”
As stated in Section 106 (6) of the Constitution: “The Cabinet and President shall resign, if the Government is defeated by the vote of the majority of all Members of the National Assembly on a vote of confidence.”
This is made even clearer in Section 106 (7), which states: “Notwithstanding its defeat, the Government shall remain in office, and shall hold an election within three months, or such longer period as the National Assembly shall, by resolution, supported by no less than two-thirds of all elected members of the National Assembly, and shall resign after a new President takes the oath of office following the election.”

(By Vanessa Narine)