(Trinidad Express) Fresh from his address to the nation, embattled Sport Minister Gary Hunt visited a school in Moruga on Monday, but brushed off calls for him to resign over the TT$2 million flag he commissioned at the Hasely Crawford Stadium.

Asked whether he would follow the suggestion of Chaguanas West MP Jack Warner and Opposition Leader Basdeo Panday for him to quit, Hunt said, ’Do we expect anything different from an Opposition politician?’

In a surprise address Sunday, Hunt celebrated the successes of his ministry, but apologised for the fiasco involving the erection of the flag. The flag has been the source of scorn by many citizens, who see it as a symbol of Government’s waste of taxpayers’ dollars. His comment came months after he had defended the cost of the flag, saying that citizens should not put a cost on national pride and patriotism.

Hunt showed up at the Cowen Hamilton Secondary School in Moruga on Monday afternoon, with several ministry officials. He said he visited because of an e-mail written by school teacher Leslie-Ann Samuel.