Sharma granted leave for judicial review against Rowley

Justice Ian Benjamin granted leave to Sharma when the matter came up for hearing Monday in the San Fernando Third Civil Court. Sharma was represented by attorney Anand Ramlogan.

In his affidavit, the Fyzabad MP said over the past four years he haD received complaints from his constituents and members of the opposition United National Congress about their unsuccessful applications for housing from the ministry of Housing.

Sharma’s affidavit stated that on May 17, he submitted an application under the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) to the Ministry of Housing requesting a statistical analysis of the racial origin of housing, apartment and land applicants; a list of names and addresses of such applicants; and any other statistics compiled by the Housing Ministry based on the race or ethnicity of applicants.

Sharma stated after he did not get a response within a month, through his attorney he wrote a letter to the designated officer at the Ministry inquiring about the status of his application. In that letter he warned that judicial review proceedings would be instituted.

In his judicial review application, the UNC MP said he wishes to scrutinise and examine the statistics "with a view to determining its accuracy and see if there is any evidence of racial discrimination/ imbalance."

Among the reliefs sought by Sharma is a declaration that Dr Rowley acted illegally in breaching Sections 15 and 23 of the FOIA, and that there has been an unreasonable delay by Dr Rowley in determining Sharma’s request under the FOIA. Justice Benjamin adjourned the matter to July 27.