THE clash over the cost of refurbishing the Ministry of Public Utilities that arose on June 23 in the Mid Year Review in the House of Representatives, spilled outside of Parliament and its privileges and protections on June 25.

Minister of Public Utilities Barry Padarath told Newsday he would not be distracted from his duties to provide services to the population by the earlier utterances of his predecessor, Diego Martin North East MP Colm Imbert, who heatedly accused him of providing incorrect information, addressing a briefing held at Balisier House, Port of Spain.

Imbert used an unflattering phrase to describe Padarath, and said he deliberately voiced it outside of Parliament. Padarath in turn said his attorneys would examine Imbert's remarks.