Gadsby-Dolly: Barry is not backward

PRINCES TOWN MP Barry Padarath is no shrinking violet but a highly astute politician, alluded Culture Minister Dr Nyan Gadsby-Dolly to Newsday yesterday.

While she disagreed with Princes Town MP Barry Padarath’s recent outburst in Parliament, she told Newsday he was an expert at the cut and thrust of politics.

The duo had clashed last Friday in the Standing Finance Committee of the House of Representatives.

Padarath had hit the ministry’s $4,000 Carifesta cake and an extra $5 million allocation to the festival. Dr Nyan Gadsby-Dolly in turn wondered if his new role as a parent had kept him from knowing the festival’s true budget as $44 million not $27 million, but which Padarath took as an attack on his baby daughter.

Yesterday Gadsby-Dolly stated her case.

“If anybody listened to what I actually said, I don’t think I brought the child into it. As a new parent you are consumed by many things. That’s the angle.

“I didn’t offer any parental advice. I said that as a new parent, I remember my days and you may miss things, such as the cost of Carifesta.”

Repeating that she had offered no advice, she quipped that if she is asked for advice she can provide it.

Gadsby-Dolly said, “He overreacted. I don’t know but it could have been a lack of sleep, as all these things can have you on edge.”

She said he had implied things that she had not mentioned.

Newsday asked about Padarath’s claim that Government MPs had been horrid to him over the past for years of this parliamentary term.

Gadsby-Dolly replied, “He is not backward. Barry is a very enthusiastic contributor and is very accustomed to the cut and thrust of politics and the parliamentary floor.

“He is very versed in the cut and thrust. He is an avid cutter and thruster.”