Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar said yesterday there was no kickback in the award of an $83 million contract to HP for the provision of 24,000 laptops to students entering secondary school this month.

"I can assure you there has been no kickback to the Government of Trinidad and Tobago, or to anyone in Trinidad and Tobago. That I can give you the assurance on. So whatever is happening there, I'm sure there will be investigations according to law," Persad-Bissessar said at the Crown Point Airport, after she arrived for her Government's four-day workshop.

She made the comment in response to a report yesterday that Hewlett-Packard, who Government awarded an $83 million contract to supply Trinidad and Tobago with 24,000 fully loaded laptops for distribution to SEA students, recently had to fork over US$55 million (TT$350m) to settle charges that it paid kickbacks to companies that recommend its products to the United States government.

Persad-Bissessar also said statements being made about the award of the contract had worried her.

"I have been very concerned about this laptop issue and we will be putting out further information to explain why HP was chosen. I see people sending out things that we can buy an HP for $300, and we are paying $400 or $500. We are not just buying an HP we are buying a package that will give a guarantee for damage, loss or repair. Secondly the firewalls that will go up and thirdly the software that will go into the HP.

"So it's not just you buying a flat HP with the normal windows, it's far more than that and my Minister of Education will be taking some time to explain why it cost more than if you walked into the United States and bought one."

The Prime Minister continued, "You have to ship it here first of all, secondly we have to load it to make it ready for our students here in Trinidad and Tobago. For my Government here, I can guarantee you there has been no pay off, no kickback and if there is, let the law take its course."