A high-stakes political bombshell has emerged in Trinidad and Tobago, where sitting Public Utilities Minister Barry Padarath has publicly revealed details of an alleged $250,000 assassination plot targeting him, orchestrated by a former minister from the previous People’s National Movement (PNM) administration. While the sitting minister says he remains deeply troubled that the alleged mastermind remains at large, he has stressed that he will not step back from his public duties or live in fear, placing his full confidence in the Trinidad and Tobago Police Service (TTPS) to see the investigation through to its conclusion.
Padarath shared the full timeline of the revelation in an exclusive interview with the *Sunday Express*, recalling that the first official warning came in December 2025, when the head of the country’s Special Branch police unit requested an urgent meeting. At the time, Padarath was at Parliament, and he attended the meeting accompanied by fellow cabinet minister Saddam Hosein. At that meeting, senior police officials told him that a detained gang leader had submitted a sworn statement to the TTPS, confirming he had been hired by a former PNM government minister to carry out the killing. The police shared key details of the plot with Padarath, including the agreed $250,000 payment for the hit, and implicitly identified the former minister without naming him publicly.
Following the briefing, police recommended an immediate upgrade to Padarath’s personal security, ordering a full risk assessment by Special Branch. The minister was offered additional personal protection, and advised to implement new security measures for both his family members and his residential property. Padarath admitted that the revelation left him completely stunned, noting that the allegation came with a disturbing level of detail that made the threat feel all too real. Adding to his concern is the fact that some of the individuals allegedly linked to the plot live and operate in the parliamentary constituency he represents, putting his family in close proximity to potential danger.
Speaking specifically about his young child, Padarath said the safety of his loved ones is his top priority, and he has already implemented all necessary additional security measures to protect them. He acknowledged that living with the constant shadow of an assassination threat is deeply unsettling, particularly for a public servant with young family members. Even so, he emphasized that the plot will not deter him from upholding the oath he took to serve the country, uphold the constitution and the rule of law, and carry out his work without fear or favor. He stressed that he will not be silenced on the issues that led to the alleged threat.
Padarath also confirmed that the gang leader who provided the sworn statement implicating the former minister remains in police custody. He told reporters that he has received two official briefings from the head of Special Branch since the initial revelation, though he has not gotten a recent update on the progress of the investigation. Police have confirmed that the probe remains active, and Padarath said he is willing to wait for law enforcement to complete their work.
As for why he believes he was targeted, Padarath pointed to his high-profile work leading oversight and audits of three large state-run entities: the Community-Based Environmental Protection and Enhancement Programme (CEPEP), the Maintenance Training Services Limited (MTS), and the Water and Sewerage Authority (WASA). He alleged that close friends, family members, and political financiers of the former PNM administration amassed enormous illicit benefits from state contracts awarded at these entities during their time in power. Padarath, a vocal supporter of the current prime minister’s anti-corruption and anti-crime crackdown, has pushed for transparent audits of these contracts, which have already uncovered serious irregularities that could expose wrongdoing by multiple powerful figures. It is this outspoken, forthright work on corruption that he believes made him a target.
Reaffirming his trust in law enforcement, Padarath said he will continue to follow the lead of the TTPS, noting that the proverb “time is longer than twine” holds true, and the full truth of the plot will eventually come to light.