By RICHARDSON DHALAI Wednesday, April 2 2008

OPPOSITION Leader Basdeo Panday yesterday described his refusal to shutdown his laptop computer as requested by House Speaker Barry Sinanan at last Friday’s sitting of the House of Representatives as an “act of civil disobedience”. And he is prepared to accept whatever consequences his actions may incur.

He also stated that the controversy was not about his use of a laptop computer but the Speaker’s attempt at changing the Standing Orders of Parliament “unlawfully, illegally, without authority and without power.”

Panday was suspended after he breached Standing Order 43(5) by disregarding the Speakers ruling to shutdown his computer if he was not going to speak on an Opposition motion on rising food prices.

“The population is under a very grave misapprehension, this issue has nothing to do with the use of a computer. The issue is that the Speaker is trying to amend the Standing Orders of this country unlawfully, illegally, without authority and without power,” Panday said.

“He cannot, by issuing a memo, change the Standing Orders. The Standing Orders contain nothing about the use of a computer as indeed it talks about not having a briefcase,” he said.

“The issue here is that the Speaker is trying to take away a right that the Member of Parliament has and that is the right to use instruments like paper, folders, a computer to carry out a debate, that is what the issue is,” he said. “When will it stop? This is an issue of illegality and encroachment of the rights and freedoms of our democratic process, it has nothing to do with the use of a computer,” Panday added as he addressed a media briefing at Rienzi Complex in Couva yesterday at which it was also announced that the UNC A’s youth arm will stage an anti-crime march Sunday April 6 from 8 am. The march is carded to begin at Rienzi Complex and end at Saith Park, Chaguanas.

Asked about the length of his suspension, Panday said he had not received any official word from the Speaker and noted that his suspension may have only been for that day’s sitting.

“I don’t know. I haven’t received word from the Speaker or anybody else.”