Former Speaker of the National Assembly Raphael Trotman was praised for the leadership he showed in office when the Office of the Parliament hosted a farewell ceremony for him in the MPs’ lounge at the Public Buildings, Brickdam last week.
According to a Parliament Office Press release, Trotman who has been appointed Minister of Governance was honoured at the ceremony for his three-year tenure as Speaker of the National Assembly. During the ceremony, Clerk of the National Assembly, Sherlock Isaacs said Trotman’s leadership “has been remarkably instructive and interesting.” Specifically, Isaacs said Trotman “came up with well-conceived ideas and accepted suggestions from staff for the improvement of the Parliament Office and the National Assembly, resulting in numerous achievements.”
The initiatives spoken of included the construction of a new website, acquisition of laptops for Members of Parliament with respect to a paperless parliament, a ramp for disabled persons, staff appreciation day, honouring of Members of Parliament, live streaming of sitting of the National Assembly, Women’s Appreciation Day, Children’s Christmas Party, Independence Exhi-bition, Schools Outreach Programme, Replacement of Chairs for Members of Parliament [and] a Sitting of a National Youth Parliament.
Other members of staff expressed their gratitude towards Trotman “for the guidance and support he has given and the concern he showed for the welfare of the staff during [his] time as Speaker,” the release said. Isaacs also stated that Trotman made the most rulings in the history of the Parliament, “he has made 25 rulings on all aspects of Parliamentary procedure and practice.”
Further Isaacs said “His rulings were well researched and entirely free from bigotry, that is from my knowledge, his rulings were free from prejudice and partiality,” according to the press release.
Trotman in accepting the accolades said he was appreciative of the support shown to him for the past three years, however his greatest disappointment as Speaker was his inability to “bring the parties closer together” but reiterated “he did what was right and upheld the constitution.”
