00:00Hyatt Lyme marketed as Trinidad and Tobago's premier all-inclusive fete boasting of world-class
00:07entertainment and gourmet cuisine. King of Soka, Marshall Montano takes to the stage
00:13to rev up patrons in the packed venue. But it would be a government minister to draw the most attention.
00:33Public Utilities Minister Barry Padaroff appeared on stage during the annual carnival event,
00:39sharing what he described as a light-hearted moment. However, not everyone was amused.
01:08Video of the exchange quickly circulated on social media where it was met with disparaging remarks.
01:15Several commenters suggested the minister appeared intoxicated. Responding to the
01:20Express newspaper hours after the clip went viral, Padaroff said, quote,
01:24It was a carnival event. It is a festive atmosphere. I said nothing that was inappropriate.
01:30I bigged up a colleague as the founder of the event. I have had all manner of things said about
01:37me
01:37by detractors, end quote. In the nearly two-minute recording, Padaroff praised Minister of Works and
01:44Infrastructure Julian John as the founder of the Hyatt Lyme. When asked about the boos heard in the video,
01:50he maintained they came from a minority, saying many patrons were kind and supportive throughout the evening.
01:58Opposition MPs were quick to weigh in. Aruka Lopino MP Marvin Gonzalez wrote to Facebook,
02:05quote, The PNM served 10 years in government. Never have I seen one minister conducting themselves
02:11in such disgusting, drunken manner, end quote. In a lengthier response, MP for Port of Spain North,
02:18St. Anne's West, former Prime Minister Stuart Young wrote, quote, The current Camel Pesson-Bissessa
02:24cabinet is the worst cabinet that Trinidad and Tobago has ever been subjected to. The level of
02:30incompetence, immaturity, ignorance and hubris is staggering, end quote. He calls the photos and
02:38videos from Hyatt, one of the most expensive vets for the carnival season, a complete disregard and the
02:44utmost disrespect to citizens. He added, quote, Barry Padaroff's vulgar display of immaturity and
02:52abuse of public office, along with other members of the Camel Pesson-Bissessa cabinet, must be
02:58juxtaposed against the context of UNC's firing of over 40,000 workers from CPAP, URP, reforestation, contract
03:06positions at WASA, TNTAC, TSTT, contract positions at HDC and many other state enterprises and ministries, end quote.
03:17Young said, while some of the countries most vulnerable have been struggling to survive,
03:22ministers, quote, unquote, party get drunk and rather temporarily held offices in the faces of the nation.
03:29He said, quote, So whilst people are suffering and trying to survive, you have Padaroff mounting a stage
03:35at a fete where a ticket costs thousands of dollars drunk and screaming into a microphone, end quote.
03:43Young condemned the, quote, unquote, vulgar abuse of office. He called Padaroff and his cabinet
03:48colleagues, quote, not only an embarrassment to Trinidad and Tobago out of touch with the suffering
03:54of those they have punished and fired, but also they are clear and present danger to our country's
04:00economy and survival, end quote. And in a cheeky response to queries we sent about the incident,
04:07Prime Minister Kamala Passat-Bissasa said, quote, I saw the video. I thought his terrible singing was hilarious.
04:14I would have booed his singing also. It's Carnival. Enjoy yourself safely, end quote.
04:20Tickets for Hyatt Lime went from US$399 to US$679 a pop.
04:29I'm Rashid Tawari, Rubnarain, TV6 News.
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