Ramkarran criticises APNU, AFC on Speakership, other issues
THE People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) has noted that the Alliance for Change (AFC) “gleefully” facilitated A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) in its “majoritarian drive by unceremoniously dumping Moses Nagamootoo” in favour of former member of the Central Executive of the People’s National Congress Reform (PNCR) Raphael Trotman. “It is not clear when Speaker Trotman had a change of heart, in terms of his interest in the post of Speaker. His name was floated earlier; it was withdrawn and emerged, again, within the past few days,” former Speaker Ralph Ramkarran observed Tuesday.
Speaking at a Freedom House, Robb Street press conference, Ramkarran continued: “Curiously, he (Trotman) said, in his remarks, that he had been anticipating the moment of his election for weeks. Was dice being played with Moses Nagamootoo’s name all this time, unknown to him? Mr. Nagamootoo got nothing for his pains except a hard, backbench seat.”
Ramkarran hosted the forum jointly with minister of the newly formed Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment Robert Persaud, and PPP/C Media Coordinator, Romel Roopnarine.
According to Ramkarran, AFC’s Khemraj Ramjattan had claimed that Nagamootoo was responsible for what he described as the favourable election result for APNU and the AFC and of influencing Berbice voters in favour of the AFC.
“He praised Nagamootoo in his brief remarks in Parliament but extended no sympathy to him, or justification to the AFC’s Berbice supporters, who Nagamootoo, allegedly, took to the AFC, for promising him a Vice-Presidency if it won the elections and then the Speakership after the elections and then breaking both of those promises,” Ramkarran observed.
He said, in a wave of triumphalism, APNU, with the collusion of its junior cohort, the AFC, “unashamedly” deployed its majoritarian will, that it has so harshly criticised in the past, in Parliament recently.

MOST HALLOWED
According to Ramkarran, in doing so, it has violated the most hallowed of parliamentary conventions by elevating former PNC strongman Trotman to the Speaker’s Chair and PNC firebrand, Debbie Backer, as Deputy Speaker.
“Even in the worst days of Burnhamist authoritarianism, when armed agents of the State were forced to transport ballot boxes at election time, an activity publicly supported many times by Chairman of APNU, David Granger, the then Government, at least, maintained the façade of tradition by allowing the Opposition PPP to have the post of Deputy Speaker, even though the Deputy Speaker was never allowed to preside during those years,” Ramkarran stated.
“Also, the Opposition threw tradition out of the windows of Parliament Building and took control of both the positions of Speaker and Deputy Speaker. Its message to the Government is our way or no way,” Ramkarran said.
However, he said the PPP/C will do all that is within its power to protect the parliamentary gains of the people and work with all forces for the development of Guyana.
Meanwhile, at the PPP/C’s first central committee meeting since the elections, the party assessed the current situation which resulted from the November 28 General and Regional Elections and said it acknowledged, with deep concern, the machinations and intrigues of APNU and AFC to derail the democratic processes given their post elections antics on and off the streets.
Despite claims of voting irregularity, the PPP/C said APNU is still to produce any credible evidence to substantiate its allegations of electoral malpractice.
The ruling party said it also views with disgust the harassment and acts of intimidation against supporters and prominent individuals and groups who have expressed their democratic and constitutional right to support the PPP/C.
“The PPP/C will monitor this campaign of bullyism and intimidation against sections of the society, to ensure that our country does not slide into an atmosphere of national discord and deep division,” Ramkarran assured.