Princes Town MP Barry Padarath, who has spent years championing a movement for the protection of children, now has a baby girl of his own.
However, just like any other father Padarath says he has absolutely no intention of putting his daughter in the spotlight even though there is already some controversy surrounding her birth.
A source who requested anonymity said Padarath allegedly paid a hefty sum and fathered the baby.
It is believed that Padarath paid US dollars to a surrogate mother who carried the baby full term until her birth. However, he refused to diviluge such information.
The source also said that Padarath had a legally binding arrangement with the mother to hand over full custody of the child to him after birth.
Padarath held a baby welcoming celebration at his Roystonia, Couva home yesterday to introduce the baby Sejal Padarath to his family and friends. The baby who is three months old, wore a white dress and she gurgled in her daddy’s arms while tassa drums rolled and people danced.
Holding a white umbrella over her head, Padarath took her upstairs where she was kissed by several people. Padarath motioned for the tassa drummers to play as he danced with her in an auditorium decorated in pink and white.
Afterward, the popular Cuppycake song was played while Padarath cut a pink and white cake with her.
Contacted yesterday, Padarath said he did not want his daughter to become exposed to the media.
“I have no intention of putting my baby in the spotlight,” he said. Asked whether it was true that he had spent a hefty sum to a surrogate mother to carry the child, Padarath said, “I have no intention of responding to any of these allegations.”
He added: “Dr Rowley has many children on stage and nobody asks him where he got the baby, so I do not intend to respond or raise my child in the spotlight.”
Padarath is known in his constituency for supporting scores of children with school books, bags, stationery and hampers over the years.
Since 2016, he has been an advocate for the strengthening of the Child Protection Unit. He has also called for more staffing for the Children’s Authority, the establishment of a public National Sex offender’s registry, and social support for teenage mothers.