Panday hangs himself..and nails his coffin.
Basdeo Panday has probably committed political suicide after behaving like a real wajang in Parliament last Friday (2008-03-28). See Guardian 2008-03-29.
In essence the Speaker of the House made proper enquiries of Mr Panday's use of a laptop. Mr Panday behaved in a difficult and unhelpful manner and eventually refused to comply with the Speaker's legitimate requests. Mr Panday was then lawfully suspended from the House.
To make matters worse, Mr Panday refused to be moved from the House and invited the Police to use force. It appeared that force was not used - because the session was then terminated. Mr Panday's supporters gathered round him for a confrontation with the police.
By any stretch of anyone's imagination such conduct by Panday and his merry men is an all time low in the history of Parliament. This is not proper conduct by a man who was a former Prime Minister and the present leader of the Oppostion. It was a display of an utter lack of leadership (- except perhaps of the illiterate).
Panday seemed to make it a 'laptop' issue - when the issue was primarily about order in the House. Panday demonstrated an inability to see the wood from the trees. He then suggested that his supporters will all return with laptops and provocatively invited the Speaker to throw them all out. I've never seen such acts of recklessness in my life. The Speaker should display less restraint in throwing the whole lot of them out when they return. There should be a heavy police presence ready for them when they return.
Dana Seetahal has done an excellent analysis of the matter in her commentary of 2008-03-30 here or here.
Is Panday intent on driving nails in his own coffin? He has taken on a fight he is bound to lose. The 'A' in UNC A probably now stands for Asinine.
Panday's only hope now is to make an unreserved apology in writing and humbly beg to return. This is in the true interest of democracy.
Unfortunately Captain, while the issue really is clear, we are seeing many persons being blinded by the red herrings slapped in their face i.e. the laptops, the ego and reputation of Panday, the race of the two protagonists (PNM and UNC), their political leanings... so many little cards pulled to cause the fall of the house.
What is more sad, the people who fall for the tripe shovelled at them are the ones who consider themselves educated and intellectual. You should see some comments I receive on this issue.
It was repeatedly said on this site last year before the election, that for the people of Trinidad and Tobago to really move forward, Panday for one, had to "disappear" from the "political scenery" for good...! Unfortunately that did not happen, and today , just a few months after the election, they are already "worse off" than they were before the November 5 election as a result of him...! believe it or not...!
...Panday thinks that the entire world revolves around him, and that he is a true hero, "in his mind only mind you - a figment of his own warped imagination"...! He too, like Manning are both living in some "imaginary world of their own" far removed from the reality of what is happening before them and around them on a daily basis...they are having great fun at their respective ages but at the expense of the "people who they continue to deceive openly" just to keep them in "power"...!
...so this type of behaviour was not unexpected coming from him, he has shown on more than one occasion that he is no "statesman" and as they say in our business, when frustration steps in, you begin to show your true colours, to show really who you are...and he is doing a great job of it in my view...while his supporters look at him as a "hero" the whole world looks at him as a "clown", including Manning and his regime, they are all having a good laugh at his expense...sadly enough, he too does not realize it himself....!
...Throwing "tantrums and "hissy fits" are for children, not big men, and more particularly, "statesmen" and "leaders"...(of a country???)
...without attempting to disrespect Panday as a person, he has been repeatedly advised to "retire into the sunset" before he makes a spectacle of himself, and further embarrass himself and his family around him, and to at least remember the "good road he started off on long ago" - perhaps with the best of intentions, and to "hold on" to that memory, but no, he has to be a "warrior" and to fight every body, as they are "the enemy" which is so far from the world politics of today...in that regard, he should take a closer look at Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama, he may learn a lesson or two from them, on "true statemanship" and "leadership"...!
...but then that will not serve "his purpose" or "satisfy his ego", so whats next on his agenda???... roll on the floor of parliament and continue to throw tantrums and hissy fits??? He has already receded to the errant child's favorite behaviour and comment.."why don't you leave me alone"?...this coming from a grown man, it sounds so pathetic and helpless...!
... so Panday has come to realize, the world is moving forward, the merry go round is going "round and round" and "he is not in control" of it anymore, and his frustrations are coming out and showing up as his true self at last...! ...if you cannot show respect for the Speaker in the house of Parliament, as a former Prime Minister, PAnday should be ashamed of himself, he is no "exemplar to children or society" for he of all people should know better...unfortunately, he too is so "wrapped up in himself" no different than the man he complains about the most, "the Prime Minister Patrick Manning"...so whats the difference here?
...The country and the people by extension are worst off as a result of both of these individuals today because of "their personal fueds"...but in fairness to Manning, at least he shows a bit more "class" and restrains himself, even if he too is totally worthless to the people of our country...!
...so my message to Panday, for the people's sake - not yours, if you cannot be part of the solution, then don't continue to be part of the problem...because that is what you are demonstrating to the world...!
....you are part of the problem... ! how sad...and what a sad way to end your career in public life, preserve whatever dignity is left over and do the right thing...!
...if you claim to be a "true leader"...then stop being everybody's clown...their source of laughter...their favorite joke of the day...!
...stop being "the problem" even if you cannot be part of the solution...just stop it for good...! but who's listening, not him, nor do I expect him to anyway...his hearing is way out of range..as is he..!
...goodluck..Trini.t.o.o
See Newsday 2008-03-30 where for the second time duncey force seemed incapable of ejecting an MP who was in breach of the rules - on direction of the Speaker.
What on earth is duncey force good for? Directing traffic, beating up people, arresting people (except Akon) for lewd dancing, feeding cocaine tuh rats? Ah doh know boy. A scratchin' me coco scorpion head - ah eh know boy.
On a serious note - I could tell you that in the UK when dee police tell you to move, you move. Else dey call up for reinforcements and your arse is frogmarched off. The police force has let down the Speaker and Parliament for the second time.
Guess wha' go happen nex'? More MP's go get orn bad and den dey go go "Touch me eeef yuh bad...you jes' touch meh!!". Anybody dong in T&T need a head of Police. Jes' employ me. All man jack go be straight as a needle in two months flat. But dat eh go happen - ah sure - because dey like eet soooh boy.
So watch dis space. More akshan to come!!