Ramesh Lawrence Maharaj and Patrick Manning are talking again about Basdeo Panday. But this time the former Attorney General and the Prime Minister are discussing the Opposition Leader's suspension from Parliament and whether the government would support a move to have Panday reinstated.The Speaker of bthe House of Representatives kicked Panday out of the House in March for refusing to obey the Speaker's ruling on the use of his laptop computer.
- Related story: Bas kicked out of Parliament, what's next?
- Read Jai Parasram's column: The laptop affair was not about the laptop
- Related column: Laptop affair is brilliant strategy of distraction
The Opposition Chief Whip Manning held discussions on the matter Friday behind the Speaker's Chair.
The Trinidad Express says its sources say Maharaj had to consult Manning because the Government's support is necessary in order to lift the suspension. The matter would be raised at the next caucus of the UNC-Alliance.
Maharaj told the paper on Thursday the Government is using its majority in the Parliament to frustrate the results of the general election.
"Democracy is under threat if the Government can use its majority in the House of Representatives to keep elected officials out of the Parliament," he said.
The Express says it understands that the Government is insisting on certain conditions to support a resolution to end the suspension, including a deal for opposition support for certain bills.
The paper says these include the Bail Bill, amendments to the procedure for the selection of the Commissioner of Police and a Children's Legislation package, all of which require a special majority to pass.
Panday can be reinstated if the House passes a motion stating that it resolves to have the suspension lifted, notwithstanding the provisions of the Standing Order 43 (10), which mandates an automatic suspension for the rest of the session.
What does Panday have to say about the matter?
"The party has set up a committee to determine how it would deal with that issue and they have several proposals for action. Maybe you should speak to the Chief Whip, he would be able to tell you more than I can," he told the Express.
He added that he did not have a personal position on the issue.
"I spent 40 years of my life fighting, struggling for the people's lives to be improved. I don't intend to give up that. Electoral politics is only incidental to that struggle."
And he didn't seem to care to return to Parliament, noting that he would not be able to function in the House with Barry Sinanan, whom he described as "stupid", in the chair.
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