AFC leader Raphael Trotman was this afternoon elected Speaker of the National Assembly.

He was nominated by AFC presidential candidate Khemraj Ramjattan and seconded by Moses Nagamootoo. Members of Parliament of the AFC and the APNU voted solidly for Trotman.

Raphael Trotman

APNU member Deborah Backer was elected Deputy Speaker.  She was nominated by Amna Ally and seconded by Volda Lawrence. There were no other nominations so she was declared Deputy Speaker.

As the 10^th sitting of the National Assembly opened, Prime Minister Sam Hinds nominated Hari Narayen (Ralph) Ramkarran and this was seconded by PPP/C MP Clement Rohee.

Ramjattan nominated Trotman and Nagamootoo seconded, while Ally nominated Backer and Lawrence seconded.

Ally subsequently withdrew Backer’s name.

The PPP/C MPs voted solidly behind Ramkarran while all of the opposition MPs voted for Trotman.

Deborah Backer