UNC left no list of public authorities

THE former UNC government left no proper listing of public authorities in Trinidad and Tobago  subject to the provisions of the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA). In a written response in the House of Representatives last Friday, Public Administration and Information Minister Dr Lenny Saith noted that while the FOIA Act 1999 makes reference to “public authorities” which are subject to its provisions, “there is no schedule to the Act which lists all public authorities and therefore no listing which would constitute a legal interpretation of the FOIA.”

The only list available was compiled in November 2000 when the FOIA was promulgated and “in the ensuing period has been amended to reflect changes in the organisation of Government ministries, State agencies and the exemption of public authorities from the operations of the FOIA. The list contains the names of 160 public authorities including the Office of the Prime Minister, North West Regional Health Authority and the TT Police Service.

Saith indicated that under the FOIA, public authorities are required to publish relevant statements in the Gazette and in a daily newspaper, but there is no statutory requirement for public authorities to notify the Ministry of any publication. According to the available list, only 36 public authorities have met this requirement. These include the Firearms Appeal Board, the National Broadcasting Network Ltd, Petrotrin and the TT Defence Force.