Public Utilities Minister Barry Padarath defended his remarks at the Hyatt Lime fete in Port of Spain, insisting he was not intoxicated and that his comments were celebratory in the festive Carnival atmosphere.
In a video that circulated on social media, Padarath can be heard addressing the crowd and praising Minister of Works and Infrastructure Jearlean John. The clip, just under two minutes long, shows Padarath shouting, “Minister! Minister! Minister!” and encouraging the audience to give “them the performance” as music played. At one point, he calls on DJ Ana to “give them performance.”
A moment captured in another video shows John reacting to the praise, standing in the audience with a smile, raising her hands, and blowing a kiss toward Padarath as he continued to laud her contributions.
Asked by The Express how he felt about portions of the audience booing him, Padarath said the boos were in the minority and that many attendees were kind and supportive throughout the evening.
Padarath dismissed criticisms from the Opposition and other detractors, arguing that they cannot derail the UNC government’s performance. He contended that it is the Opposition’s role to critique, but asserted that the celebration was about acknowledging colleagues’ efforts.
He reiterated that John is a hardworking minister who played a key role in the Hyatt fete during her time as chairman of the Urban Development Corporation of Trinidad and Tobago (UDeCOTT), describing his remarks as simply giving a colleague the recognition she deserves.
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