LEADER of Government Business Barry Padarath has rejected claims that he sought to intimidate a member of the parliamentary staff after photographing a technician during a heated Standing Finance Committee meeting on Friday.

Speaking with reporters outside Parliament on Abercromby Street, Port of Spain yesterday, Padarath insisted the photograph was taken solely to identify the staff member involved in an ongoing dispute over microphones being muted during parliamentary proceedings.

During Friday’s Standing Finance Committee meeting, Government members complained that their microphones had been muted. Padarath subsequently approached and photographed the parliamentary staff member responsible for managing the microphones’ audio system.