Speaker of the National Assembly Raphael Trotman yesterday said that he was not prepared to resign in the face of recent allegations of sexual abuse, while his party accused Attorney General Anil Nandlall of involvement in directing his accuser to attorney Jaya Manickchand.
Nandlall yesterday categorically denied any involvement but did admit that a member of his staff did meet with Johnny Welshman Jnr although he was unaware of the subject of their engagement.
At a news conference yesterday, Trotman spoke briefly about the allegations, which he denied.
“I have never in my life committed any act of a sexual nature that is illegal…,” he said. “I have never molested any child, male or female and…. I will never in my life do anything to hurt any child or to commit any offence of a sexual nature…or other kind of offence,” he added. When questioned whether he would resign from his position as Speaker of the National Assembly given the allegations leveled against him, Trotman said he was not prepared to do so but he was seeking guidance on the issue. He said at present it was just an allegation and no charges were brought against him. When probed on whether he would resign if he were charged, he chose not to answer.
Since the allegations surfaced just under a week ago, the AFC has reiterated its support for Trotman while accusing the government of being behind a plot to destroy his character in order to derail the National Assembly from considering of a no-confidence motion against the administration.
AFC General Secretary David Patterson yesterday said the AFC received information that a senior government official, whom he later identified as Nandlall, had given Welshman directions. He said afterward Trotman contacted Nandlall via telephone and demanded an explanation but Nandlall denied the allegation. Patterson added that forty-five minutes after Nandlall called back Trotman and said the man came to his office but he wasn’t there and one of his staffers instructed Welshman to go to Miss Manickchand.
Nandlall later released a statement saying that he was in no way involved in sending the young man to Manickchand. “I wish to absolutely and categorically deny any involvement, in or connection with either directly or indirectly, the said sexual assault fiasco,” he said. He explained that he made certain inquiries of the professional staff at the Attorney-General’s Chambers and found out that Welshman met with one of his staffers, State Counsel Leslyn Noble, in the chambers.
He said he had neither authorised the meeting nor was present at it, while noting that the two individuals were acquainted. He further stated that he was unaware of the reason for that engagement and also the content of any discussion which may have taken place. He said he did not inquire about the nature of the discussion because he had formed the opinion that it was of a personal nature.
“It is with utter shock that I learnt that I am the latest casualty in a long list of persons implicated by the [AFC] in the sexual abuse scandal,” he said.
Patterson, however, maintained that Nandlall was involved and suggested that it was by extension indicative of government involvement. “…These allegations are nothing more than a dastardly scheme to avert the impending no-confidence motion,” he further stated.
Both AFC MPs Trevor Williams and Moses Nagamootoo, who were also present at the news conference, also affirmed this position, while saying that the intention was to create a parliamentary crisis.
Meanwhile, Patterson also said Manickchand’s admission of her role in seeking to mediate a settlement between Welshman and Trotman after being told of the allegations could have resulted “in the perversion of the course of justice” and opened questions on the true intent of her actions.
He further stated that the party was appalled that Manickchand, a former Commissioner of the Guyana Elections Com-mission nominated by the PPP/C, would consider initiating such an arrangement. He said the AFC was not persuaded by her statements that she was “giving a friend a head’s up” but in fact she was acting in her professional capacity in which she was soliciting funds for an alleged victim of a serious crime from the alleged perpetrator in return for making the criminal matter disappear. “The admission of participation in such a venture should not escape the attention of the relevant authorities,” he said.
He said if it was her intention to notify Trotman of the allegation, she would have advised the alleged victim to report the matter to the police and informed him that she was unable to act on his behalf.
Manickchand, in a letter on Wednesday, said she was never retained by Welshman, although she did seek to “mediate” a settlement on his behalf.
Trotman included texts sent to him by Manickchand advising a settlement as an exhibit in the filings for legal proceedings against Welshman, from whom he is seeking in excess of $50 million in damages for alleged libel.
Seeking to explain her role in the matter, Manickchand informed in her letter that during a phone conversation last Friday Welshman informed her by of his allegations and that he had made a report at the Criminal Investigations Department. She said that after hearing of the report, she believed that the matter would become a public matter soon. She also advised Welshman to seek counsel with the Chambers of the Director of Public Prosecutions.
“Based on certain information offered by Mr Welshman, I offered to speak with Raphael Trotman to mediate between the parties about if a likely ‘settlement’ could have been met. I was still not retained by Welshman.
However, if having spoken to Raphael Trotman, I felt a settlement could be reached, then I would have considered facilitating that settlement,” she said.
“I thought it best to have Raphael deal with this matter privately because he has young daughters and I know allegations like the ones being made, can be hurtful to anyone, and particularly young, innocent girls. Further, given what Welshman told me and the manner in which he told me same, I felt he too would best be served by the route he (Welshman) was proposing, that being a settlement,” she added.
Manickchand said that having determined that there was no further assistance she could offer after speaking with Trotman, she “recused” herself from the matter. As a result, she said when she later told reporters that she did not represent Welshman, there was nothing “incorrect” in her statement.
