Trotman would like to play active AFC role
– Ramjattan says it is unlikely Nagamootoo will become an AFC ‘Executive’ this year
THE Speaker of the National Assembly is expected to serve all of the people and not any in particular, said the Alliance For Change (AFC) member, Mr. Raphael Trotman, who was recently elected to the post. Speaking at an AFC press briefing, at the Side Walk Café, Middle Street, Georgetown, he sought to pronounce on his future role in the party, of which he was leader.
According to him, though it is unclear what that will be, he will be serving as Speaker as tradition dictates.
“The Speaker is expected to serve all and not one. As for my future with the AFC, the members and the delegates will decide this but I would like to play an active role,” Trotman said.
He acknowledged the obvious time constraints which will prevent him from serving in both capacities but noted that the constitution of the AFC allows  the position of party leader to be rotated.
“One has to look at tradition; one has to look at time constraints but, in any event, our constitution does say that, as far as possible, we should vacate positions. I’ve been the leader of the party since 2007,” Trotman pointed out.
Meanwhile, AFC Chairman, Mr. Khemraj Ramjattan said he is not excluding himself from becoming the new leader later this year.
“I don’t want to exclude myself. I think the party would require some persons of experience now that Raphael has gone to be the Speaker,” he said.
Ramjattan said, too, that it is unlikely former PPP stalwart Moses Nagamootoo will become an AFC executive this year, because the party’s constitution requires that an individual be a member for at least one year in order to be considered and this will only change if the party’s constitution is altered; and that is unlikely.