BARRY PADARATH, Minister of Public Utilities, has vowed to tackle a deficit of $850 million owed to the National Maintenance Company (MTS) under the former PNM regime, he told Newsday in a voice-note on December 23.

The MTS provides security services to schools and law courts, plus other services.

The $m hole in the State enterprise for which Padarath has now become line minister was revealed by Ombudsman Jacqueline Sampson-Meiguel in her special report #2 of 2025 laid in the House of Representatives in November. Sampson-Meiguel was the former Clerk of the House of Representatives.