‘Tell me who are persons in public life for 2004’

A BUILDING contractor has filed an application for judicial review of the decision of the Integrity Commission to deny or reject his application pursuant to the Freedom of Information Act for a list of all persons who became persons in public life in the year 2004 under the Integrity in Public Life Act. The application was filed in the San Fernando High Court by Azad Mohammed, of Golconda Junction, Diamond Village, San Fernando. Mohammed contends that the Integrity Commission blanked his application on the ground that the Integrity Commission is not subjected to the provisions of the Integrity in Public Life Act, and that declarations filed with the Commission are secret and confidential.

Mohammed wants an order of certiorari to quash the decision of the Integrity Commission contained in a letter dated October 13 that the information requested by the applicant is not discloseable by virtue of Section 20 of the Integrity in Public Life Act. Mohammed wants an order of mandamus directing the Integrity Commission to provide the information he requested by application dated June 14. He is asking for a declaration that he is entitled to that information under the Freedom of Information Act. Mohammed believes that the application for judicial review is one that is justifiable in the public interest because it raises the following issues which are of grave and urgent public importance:

(a) whether the public is entitled to know who are the persons that became “persons in public life” in 2004 and therefore subjected to the Integrity in Public Life Act.

(b) whether the Integrity Commission is subjected to the provisions of the Freedom of Information Act.

(c) whether the Integrity Commission is guilty of unreasonable delay in dealing with Mohammed’s application contrary to Section 15 of the Freedom of Information Act.

The application for judicial review was advertised in yesterday’s newspapers inviting other persons with a more direct interest in the matter to file a similar application or apply to be joined as a party to the proceedings. Persons who wish to be joined in the matter have 14 days from the last publication of the notice. Then, the Registrar of the Supreme Court will fix a date on which the leave application will be argued before a judge. Mohammed’s attorney is Haresh Ramnath.