Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar said Wednesday she is concerned about the safety of the laptops her government is giving first form students in Trinidad and Tobago and suggested measures that might discourage thieves.
She was speaking in Penal where she handed out new computers to children at the Holy Faith Convent.
"I received these two suggestions and they are being considered. It was suggested that we take to Parliament a legislation to increase the penalties when it comes to stolen laptops, that is, increase the penalties for larceny and persons receiving stolen items.
"And we are also considering painting all the laptops a different colour, so when you see it you know that it belongs to a student. We are taking this into consideration for the next batch of laptops," she said.
The Prime Minister distributed computers at four schools - Iere High School, Holy Faith Convent, Penal Secondary School and Shiva Boys Hindu College.
At her Alma Mater, Iere High School, students put on a brief concert in Persad-Bissessar's honour.
When she handed out the computers she reminded the kids that there were no such machines in her time and urged them to make maximum use of the computers and the opportunities they can offer.
"When I was a pupil here at Iere High School I had no laptop, so think about how much more you can do now with your laptop," she said.
She reminded the students that while the gift of a computer was a campaign promise fulfilled there were others who helped make it happen. "Your parents have also contributed to these laptops, as they are taxpayers," she said.
"Take these laptops and go to the mountain tops. Take this gift and turn it into a prize. You must also share it with your brothers and sisters," she said.
Persad-Bissessar spoke about her school days at Iere. "I was involved in everything—sports, drama, public speaking. My first public speech was right here on this platform. I never thought of being a politician or a prime minister.
"I wanted to be a teacher. So I want you to dream your dreams and have a vision. As long as you are prepared to work for it, it will work for you," she said.
The Prime Minister has said her goal is for every secondary school pupil to have a laptop in the next five years. And she has urged the children to "take good care of your laptops and it will take care of you. The future of the nation is in the laptops of our children," she said.
On Independence Day in 1962 the country's first prime minister, Dr Eric Williams, told children that they carry the nation's future in their book bags. One of the dreams that Williams was unable to make a reality was universal secondary education in Trinidad and Tobago.
Persad-Bissessar made that happen when she was Education Minister in the Panday UNC government.
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