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Public Utilities Minister Barry Padarath said he was not drunk when he went on stage and addressed the audience at the Hyatt Lime fete in Port of Spain on Wednesday night.

“It was a Carnival event, it is a festive atmosphere. I said nothing that was inappropriate. I bigged up a colleague as the founder of the event. I have had all manner of things said about me by detractors,” said Padarath in response to questions from the Express yes­terday.

A video went viral on Wednesday night showing Padarath addres­sing the crowd and praising Minister of Works and Infrastructure Jearlean John. The video is just under two minutes long.