Public Utilities Minister Barry Padarath says he is concerned that a former government minister who allegedly attempted to place a hit on his life is still walking around freely.He however told the Sunday Express that he has confidence in the Police Service and will not live in fear.In response to questions from the Sunday Express concerning a statement made by a man who alleged he was offered $250,000 by a former government minister to kill him, Padarath said in December 2025 he was contacted by the head of Special Branch who indicated that they needed to meet with him urgently.“I was at the Parliament at that time and I agreed to meet with them. Minister Saddam Hosein accompanied me to that meeting with the head of the Branch, and they advised me that a gang leader had given a sworn statement to the TTPS that he was engaged by a former PNM government minister to put a hit on my life,” said Padarath.He said the police then “shared some of the contents of the allegations with me, indicating that it was a figure of $250,000 and subsequently they insinuated without calling names who the former government minister was”.Padarath said the police advised him that there was need to increase security and an evaluation would be done by Special Branch.“I was offered additional security and I was also instructed that I should consider having security arrangements put in place for members of my family and the security of where I live,” he said.The minister said he was left stunned by the report.“Yes, I was very shocked by the allegation, deeply concerned, deeply troubled by it because of the level of detail that I was made aware of, and the fact that some of the persons that were purportedly involved live in and around the vicinity where I live, and live within a constituency and operate within a constituency that I represent at a parliamentary level.“Yes, I am more concerned about my young child and the ones who mean the most to me. I’ve taken the necessary steps to provide additional security and safety for them,” he said.He added: “It is very unnerving, particularly when you have young children and you serve in public life, to have these sorts of exposures and therefore it is always at the forefront of my mind.“However, I will not be deterred from performing my public duty. I swore to uphold the Constitution and the law and to serve without fear or favour and therefore I will not be muzzled.”The minister said while he will take the necessary precautions to ensure the safety of himself and his loved ones, he owes a duty to country.He also disclosed the gangster remains in police custody.“I have been spoken to by the head of Special Branch on two occasions. Recently, I have not received an update as to the status of the investigation, but I am told that the investigation continues and the alleged gang leader who swore the affidavit and the statement, I am advised that that person is still in custody,” he said.Padarath said he believes he is targeted because he is privy to a number of issues surrounding CEPEP, MTS and WASA in particular—entities where friends, families and financiers of the PNM benefited tremendously from State contracts.Padarath said a lot of questions have been raised through those audits in terms of the work that has been done thus far.“There are a lot of implications of persons who would have been involved in these State contracts and therefore I believe that my public profile of being very outspoken, very forthright on these issues and more on behalf of the Government and in support of the Honourable Prime Minister’s position on the crackdown on any war against corruption and crime is possibly the reason why I was targeted,” he said. Padarath said he was advised by police that investigations are ongoing.“I therefore I put my trust, faith and confidence in the law enforcement to deal with it. Sometimes they say time is longer than twine and therefore we await the results from the TTPS on this matter. But yes, it is