Caption: Public Utilities Minister Barry Padarath

By Alicia Chamely

JUST one day after Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar warned citizens to behave and not embarrass themselves this Carnival, a video of Public Utilities Minister Barry Padarath hijacking the DJ’s mic at the Hyatt Regency’s LIME and subsequently being booed has emerged on social media.

A viral video on Wednesday night showed Padarath, who was alleged to be intoxicated, addressing the crowd.

The video, which was just under two minutes, showed Padarath praising his ministerial colleague Minister of Works and Infrastructure Jearlean John, boasting of her performance and telling the crowd John was one of the founders of the fete.

Padarath was filmed shouting into the crowd, “Minister, Minister Jearlean John. Jearlean don’t hide. Do you know who is the founder of Hyatt fete? The founder of Hyatt fete. Put your hands in the air, when Machel says ‘give them performance! Give them the time of their life. Minister! Minister! Minister! In the Kamla Persad-Bissessar administration is a lady… there’s a Minister who founded Hyatt fete.”

Not impressed by Padarath disturbing the fete, members of the crowd began to heckle and boo the Minister.

Padarath, who seemed unfazed by the crowd’s negative reaction, was approached by DJ Simmo, whom he ignored, instead addressing DJ Anna, calling on her to “give them performance.”

Despite calls for him to get off the stage, Padarath continued, “You ready? You ready? You ready for Jearlean John! Give them performance! Give them the time of your life.”

Speaking to the Express after the video went viral, Padarath denied he was drunk and said despite what video might show most fete goers were supportive.

Commenting on the incident he said, “It was a carnival event, it is a festive atmosphere. I said nothing that was inappropriate. I bigged up a colleague as the founder of the event. I have had all manner of things said about me by detractors.”

On Tuesday, Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar issued a message to revellers.

Persad-Bissessar, who encouraged members of the public to behave responsibly, said, “My advice to Carnival revellers is enjoy yourself but don’t do anything to embarrass yourself or demean your loved one’s reputations.”

 “I wouldn’t want to see anyone who was really just trying to have a good time being humiliated on social media because of a regrettable act they committed in a moment of bad or impaired judgement,” she added.

On Thursday, Member of Parliament for Port-of-Spain North/St Ann’s West Stuart Young took to his Facebook page to express his opinion of Padarath and his actions.

Young stated, “Barry Padarath’s vulgar display of immaturity and  abuse of public office along with other members of Kamla Persad Bissessar’s cabinet must be juxtaposed against the context of the UNC’s firing of over 40,000 workers from CEPEP, URP, reforestation, contract positions at WASA, T&TEC, TSTT (all of which fall under Padarath), contract positions at HDC and many other state enterprises and ministries. Some of our most vulnerable citizens have been fired by this UNC government and are struggling to survive whilst these ministers party, get drunk and rub their temporarily held offices in the faces of the nation.”

He stated  that Padarath’s behaviour and those of other members of the government who have been pictured at expensive fetes was evidence of the government’s disconnect from the people it had been elected to serve.

Calling for the Prime Minister to act, Young stated, “I condemn the vulgar abuse of office by the Kamla Persad Bissessar cabinet members and call upon her to immediately remove all of these ministers who have been bringing our country into disrepute before it is too late.”

Messages sent to both Padarath and John were not replied to.