LAPTOP ….. yuh know how long I eh see dat word starrin so much in de papers ….. actually …. is quite October 2007 ….. when Dookeran had promise tuh buy laptops fuh all de school chirren an dem ….. well look whey it reach now ……. 3 days in ah row …… on multiple pages in de newspapers ….. starrin nex tuh words like …… Parliament .... and ..... Panday!!! 

I doh like politics or politicians …… so although I become peeved sometimes ….. at both ….. I generally refrain from airing my two cents ….. but how could one really keep quiet on dis laptop issue?! ….. especially wit de name “Panday” attached tuh it ….. yuh know it bound tuh be entertaining …… remember de red beret?  

Anyway ….. my layman understanding of the ‘issue’ is this …… de Speaker of de House, Barry Sinanan (BS) ….. make up some rule ..... about having tuh get permission (beforehand) ..... in order to use electronic devices in Parliament ….. so on Friday ……. when he notice two open laptops (dat he eh give 'permission' for!) ….. one belonging to Gary Hunt …… and one belonging to Basdeo Panday …... he promptly enquired of both parties ….. whether they intended to use them ….. to contribute towards the impending debate on high food prices …... Mr. Hunt replied by closing his laptop ……. and Mr. Panday’s reply was the equivalent of ...... “what sh!t yuh askin meh - doh ask meh nuttin!” …… this of course angered the Speaker …… who then posed the question to Mr. Panday again (twice) …… while requesting that he put away the laptop …… however …… again ...... an unsatisfactory response followed …… so BS suspended Mr. Panday and adjourned de session ..... fuh everybody tuh ketch deyself ..... lo and behold ….. when the proceedings resumed …… BS observed that Mr. Panday was still sitting (with his open laptop) …… so he promptly summoned the Police to escort Mr. Panday out ….. well this never happen either ……. cuz Mr. Panday’s goons surrounded him ….. forming a protective barrier …… which evidently was pretty effective …… as it made it impossible for our lame ass Police to reach him  …… anyway …. de bacchanal was jus too much ….. so BS ended the day’s sitting ……. I believe the next sitting is some time next week (or this week?) ….. when obviously ….. the saga will continue!!! 

Now really …. dis story fuh real?! ….. you believe that these are the people put to run our country ..… you believe that in the 21^st century you can’t use a laptop to aid with your job …… you believe dat de police was unable to remove Mr. Panday …… you believe dat BS stop de day’s proceedings fuh dat crap …. while food prices still rising ….. you believe dat while all dat was goin orn .... Mr. Manning was jokin around wit his Ministers …. and earlier on ….. he was sleeping?! ….. you believe dat is OK tuh sleep and snore in Parliament ….. but is not OK tuh use a (quiet) laptop tuh take/view notes …… you believe dat Mr. Panday in his old age is still an idiot ….. you realise dat jus cuz he name ‘Opposition Leader’ ….. he feel dat da’is he licence tuh 'ack ah fool' and oppose everyting and everybody ….. you believe that there are people who still support him blindly ….. you believe that Mikela does still look like she proud he is her Father (shoo-shooin wit him and den givin him ah high five!!) ….. do you believe dat he was really usin dat laptop tuh have easy access tuh all of PNM’s broken promises ……. do you believe dat he really know how tuh use ah laptop?  

When de mark first buss ……. those were some of the thoughts running around in my head …. but after reading about the issue extensively over the past two days ….. I came to realise that the real issue was never really about a laptop …… and that it was more about regulating the use of electronic devices in Parliament ….. and about Mr. Panday’s defiance of the authority of the Speaker! ……. cuz according to the Speaker (BS) …… the business of parliament is to discuss the people’s business ….. and since there is no laid down procedure regarding electronic devices ….. he created one ……. so as to prevent disruptions during discussions …… cuz although laptops were given to all MPs ….. it was really to assist with parliamentary work …… and not to work with in Parliament ….. after all …… what would happen if all 41 members decided to use their laptops at the same time …. while trying to debate some hot, burning, relevant topic (like high food prices)?!! 

….. now although I’m still not totally sold ...... on BS's 'electronic devices' rationale ...... cuz there are definite pros and cons ...... at the end of the day ...... Mr. Panday blatantly disregarded the ‘rules’ ..... and he subsequently disrespected the Speaker of the House (who is the person 'in charge' in Parliament!) ...... so ….. if a man in Mr. Panday's position cannot obey a simple rule .... then where does that leave the ordinary citizen?! ...…. no wonder there’s so much lawlessness around us!!