LEADER of Government Business Barry Padarath has accused the PNM of “abdicating their responsibility to speak on behalf of those who elected them.”

He did so in a Facebook post after five opposition MPs failed to contribute to the debate on the budget on October 17. This brought the debate to an abrupt end.

Padarath, the Minister of Public Utilities and Couva South MP, said after Claxton Bay MP Hansen Narinesingh’s contribution, the seventh government speaker, no member of the PNM stood to debate despite having five members yet to speak.