The full name of the legislation is the Freedom of Information Act Chap. 22:02 of the Laws of Trinidad and Tobago.

The Act gives the right to members of the public or organisations to access information in the possession of Public Authorities.

• Parliament, a Joint Select Committe of Parliament or a committe of either House of Parliament;
• the Court of Appeal, the High Court, the Industrial Court, the Tax Appeal Board or a Court of summary jurisdiction;
• a Ministry or a department or division of a Ministry;
• the Tobago House of Assembly, the Executive Council of the Tobago House of Assembly;
• a Municipal Corporation established under the Municipal Corporations Act;
• a Regional Health Authority established under the Regional Health Authorieties Act;
• a statutory body, responsibility for which is assigned to a Minister of Government;
• a company incorporated under the laws of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago which is owned or controlled by the State;
• a Service Commission established under the Constitution or other written law

Currently, there are no charges to access information from Public Authorities.

Yes, the Form is a Schedule to the Act. Please see a representation of the Form below.

At PPGPL you can direct your request to the Designated Officers:
Florence Mulchansingh; or
Indira Rampersad

A Public Authority has 30 calendar days by which to notify the applicant if the request will be granted, refused or deferred.

In the following circumstances a Public Authority can refuse your request:

1. When the information you have asked for is already publicly available;
2. When your request supersedes the available resources of the public authority. The Public Authority however, must show that it took all steps as far as reasonably possible to gather the information.
3. When there is an overriding public interest against disclosure.

The Public Authority must show that the public interest in withholding the information is greater than the public interest in disclosing the information. Some factors that favour disclosure in the public interest are:

1. The information requested relates to an issue that affects a large number of people; It sheds light on how public funds are being spent
2. It deals with a matter that is a subject of public controversy;
3. It would help individuals to make more informed choices on important matters.

A Public Authority may refuse access to any official documents containing exempt information.

Under the FOIA, there are certain categories of documents that are exempt from the general rule of access and include the following:

1. Cabinet documents
2. Defence and security documents
3. International relations documents
4. Internal working documents
5. Law enforcement
6. Documents affecting legal proceeding
7. Trade secret documents
8. Material obtained in confidence
9. Where secrecy provisions provide
10. Documents affecting personal privacy
11. Documents affecting the economy and commercial affairs

Before deciding to refuse access however, the Public Authority must try to delete any information that makes the document exempt. Removing all exempt information would make the requested document suitable for disclosure and access may be approved. The applicant must agree to accept the document in its amended form before the Public Authority makes the deletions.

You can complain to the Office of the Ombudsman who may undertake formal or informal investigations and actions to assist in resolving the complaint.

If your first avenue of recourse fails or is unsatisfactory, you have the right to apply to the High Court for Judicial Review.