Public Utilities Minister and Couva South MP Barry Padarath has raised serious allegations of sexual harassment within Trinidad and Tobago’s On-the-Job Training (OJT) Programme, accusing the former People’s National Movement (PNM) administration of failing to adequately address complaints over several years.
Speaking during the 2027 Budget Debate in Parliament on Monday, October 19, Padarath said allegations involving employees and trainees had previously been raised before parliamentary Joint Select Committees.
He referred to committee proceedings in 2018 and 2020, claiming that former Labour Minister Stephen McClashie had acknowledged reports of sexual harassment but could not provide details on the number of cases or how they were handled.
Padarath also criticised conditions under which the programme previously operated, alleging that inadequate facilities and a lack of air conditioning had resulted in shortened working hours for extended periods.
The minister said the OJT Programme, which currently serves more than 4,000 young people, was intended to prepare the next generation for employment and leadership.
He accused the previous administration of allowing complaints to remain unresolved, despite the programme’s responsibility to protect young trainees.
Padarath announced that Clyde Elder, Minister in the Ministry of Public Utilities and MP for La Brea, would meet with the Commissioner of Police and OJT directors to examine the number of sexual harassment complaints and determine how they had been addressed.
He expressed concern that young people had allegedly been exposed to predatory behaviour, insisting that such matters should never have been allowed to continue without proper intervention.
However, former Labour Minister Stephen McClashie previously told Guardian Media that reported harassment cases had not reached his attention and would have been handled administratively by programme officials.
Former Education Minister Dr Nyan Gadsby-Dolly has also denied knowledge of the allegations and disputed Padarath’s earlier suggestion that OJT fell under her ministry during the PNM administration.
In May 2026, OJT director Joann David told a parliamentary committee that approximately 50 workplace harassment complaints were recorded annually between 2022 and 2025, including bullying and sexual harassment.
Padarath maintained that the current administration intends to establish what happened to the complaints and ensure that the allegations receive appropriate attention.
The allegations have not been established as findings against any named individual.
Verified against the October 19 parliamentary Hansard and published reporting on the OJT complaints and responses.