Achong apologises unreservedly

Achong recalled that at the last sitting of the House he used language and made comments that were "wholly inappropriate and not associated with dignity and decorum expected of a member."

"I therefore wish to unreservedly apologise to all members of the House, and in particular to Honourable Ganga Singh and to Honourable Manohar Ramsaran for offending them in the manner in which I did," he stated.

There was a strong sense of bonhomie in the Parliament as Achong concluded. "My bark is a lot worse than my bite," he quipped.

The goodwill which the apology engendered had members on both sides table-thumping.

Laventille East/Morvant MP Fitzgerald Hinds leaned over and shook Achong’s hand. San Fernando West MP Diane Seukeran gave him an affectionate wink, while Leader of Government Business Ken Valley nodded. And Ganga Singh smiled. Speaking to Newsday after the sitting, Chaguanas MP Manohar Ramsaran who had written to the Speaker about the issue, said, "I accept the apology. He was a big man. He stood up and acknowledged he did something wrong, and he sincerely and unreservedly apologised. And I am satisfied with that. The matter is now closed," he added.

But of course the temptation to give him at least one piece of picong could not be resisted.

Later in the sitting as a division on a vote was being taken and Achong’s name was called to say either "yay or nay," Opposition Leader Basdeo Panday wagged his finger in Achong’s direction, and said playfully, "No cussing!"

Last week Monday, Achong had used abusive language to Singh and Ramsaran, after he became angry when Singh named certain PNM officials as being involved in a conspiracy to plant cocaine in Sadiq Baksh’s water tank.

His apology brought an end to any consideration and basis for taking the matter to the Privileges Committee of Parliament, a move which would have carried the risk of penalties such as suspension or expulsion.