PUBLIC Utilities Minister Barry Padarath has defended the government’s refusal to answer questions in Parliament over the firings of the Central Bank governor and the Water and Sewerage Authority (WASA) CEO.

During the House of Representatives sitting on June 27, The opposition filed two urgent questions related to the firings of Dr Alvin Hilaire and Keithroy Halliday from their posts at the Central Bank and WASA respectively.

The government responded by invoking a rarely used standing order and refused to answer questions on the issue claiming to do so would be contrary to public interest.