By Clint Chan Tack Tuesday, April 1 2008

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Pennelope Beckles...

DEPUTY SPEAKER Pennelope Beckles yesterday disclosed that Opposition Leader Basdeo Panday had been warned before last Friday’s sitting of the House of Representatives about not using a laptop computer during a sitting if he was not going to contribute to the debate.

Panday was suspended last Friday after he breached Standing Order 43(5) by disregarding Speaker Barry Sinanan’s ruling to shut down his laptop computer if he was not going to speak on an Opposition motion on rising food prices.

Beckles confirmed Sinanan had issued a February 25 circular about MPs obtaining permission from the Speaker to use laptops as part of their preparations for debate on a particular day. She said Sinanan went on vacation shortly after the circular was issued and she presided over the sittings of the House during the time he was away. Beckles said she observed Panday using his laptop during one of those sittings while she was in the chair and he did not speak during the debate.

The Deputy Speaker said she “drew this to the attention” of Chief Whip Ramesh Lawrence Maharaj in a private conversation. Beckles said she reminded Maharaj about the circular and suggested he inform Panday accordingly. Maharaj is currently out of the country and could not be reached for comment. However, yesterday Panday said that unlike Sinanan, Beckles never told him to shut down his laptop when she was presiding over the House.

Panday said he provides information accessed through his laptop to his Opposition MPs so they can respond to Government MPs during debates. He added that information such as the Parliament’s Standing Orders and the country’s laws are stored on his laptop.

Panday said the UNC Alliance’s (UNC A) national executive and parliamentary caucus will meet this afternoon at Rienzi Complex, Couva to discuss its plans for Friday’s sitting of the House.

Panday was tight-lipped about potential strategies for Friday but seemed to push the legal option to the back burner with Maharaj out of the country and unlikely to return home in time for this week’s sitting. Caroni Central MP Dr Hamza Rafeeq is deputising for Maharaj.

In January, Maharaj said the Opposition was prepared to take legal action against Sinanan for certain decisions. Maharaj made this announcement after Sinanan disallowed two attempts by the UNC A to debate crime as a matter of definite urgent public importance. Maharaj referred the matter to lawyers in the United Kingdom but sources yesterday said little progress has been made to date because there is no precedent in the Commonwealth for the action being proposed.