Opposition Members of Parliament from the People’s National Movement (PNM) staged a walkout from the House of Representatives on Monday night in protest of the conduct of Leader of Government Business Barry Padarath last week Friday.However, Padarath was undaunted and fired back at Opposition Leader Pennelope Beckles over her not participating in the debate.The walkout occurred around 10.19 p.m. during the debate on the Supplementation and Variation of Appropriation for Fiscal Year 2026.
Raised objection: Member of Parliament for Port of Spain South Keith Scotland contributing to Monday’s debate.
As Padarath rose to make his contribution, Opposition members exited the Chamber.In a subsequent news release, the PNM stated that it walked out in protest of Padarath’s alleged “intimidation” of a parliamentary officer after he purportedly took a photograph last Friday of the technician responsible for the microphones.Padarath has claimed there was intentional muting of the microphones of Government members and that this had been occurring since the UNC was in Opposition.The PNM said its action was a deliberate act of protest against Padarath’s “reprehensible conduct”.The party maintained that Parliament was an independent and apolitical institution and that its officers must be allowed to perform their duties without fear of harassment, intimidation or political pressure.“Such conduct is wholly unbecoming of a senior Parliamentarian and represents a clear abuse of authority by the leader of Government Business,” the statement said.The Opposition stated that several days after the incident there had been “no apology, no remorse and no acknowledgement” by the Government of the seriousness of what had occurred.Instead, the PNM accused the Government of escalating the dispute and doubling down on the “attack”, noting that the Prime Minister had also endorsed the behaviour.The Opposition further claimed it had obtained information suggesting the alleged pattern of intimidation may not be limited to parliamentary staff.“Information reaching the Opposition suggests that this pattern of intimidation may not be confined to Parliamentary staff but may also extend to members of Mr Padarath’s own caucus.”The PNM called on any Member of Parliament who may have been subjected to intimidation, bullying or coercion to come forward.The Opposition said it could not “in good conscience”, participate in parliamentary proceedings while the individual it holds responsible for the incident was leading Government business in the House.The party reiterated its call for a full criminal investigation into the matter and again urged the Prime Minister to remove Padarath as leader of Government Business.Padarath continuesPadarath appeared unfazed by the walkout and began his contribution by accusing the PNM of abdicating its duty to the people.He noted that Parliament began at 10.30 a.m. and that, nearly 12 hours later, Beckles had not joined the debate.Padarath said he spoke with Opposition Chief Whip Marvin Gonzales behind the Speaker’s chair and that Gonzales indicated they were ready to wrap up the debate.He said UNC Government members and the two Tobago MPs stood in the gap for the people of Trinidad and Tobago and would not abdicate their responsibility to speak on their behalf.“We are not lazy, we are not incompetent and we will not be silent, we will account for performance in Government and the request we have made for supplementation and variation,” he said.He said leadership was critical, especially when dealing with the country’s finances.“You big, you bad, you bold outside there, you in every vigil, you in every protest, but now having been given the opportunity to stand in the gap for the people who elected you to do so, the member for Arima in her typical lazy, laissez-faire approach towards contributing to this House,” he said.Lone Opposition MP Keith Scotland raised an objection to Padarath’s statement about Beckles, prompting the Speaker to instruct him to change his description.The minister also posted on social media yesterday: “The PNM is useless inside the Parliament as they are outside the Parliament. They can walk out as often as they wish, however that will not deter the UNC from exposing them and their proxies.“The Parliament sat from 10.30 a.m. on Monday till 12.45 a.m. on Tuesday on the mid-year review and we still haven’t heard from the incompetent, absent and lazy Leader of the Opposition. I will not be used by the PNM to distract from their racist, divisive and disgusting attacks. They wanted to know who I am at war with, well let’s make it clear to them, I am at war with the PNM and their waste, mismanagement and corruption.”
