作者： admin

As the highly anticipated Tobago Carnival approaches, scheduled for October 24 to 26, concerns over transportation logistics have taken center stage. THA Minority Leader Kelvon Morris has urged Caribbean Airlines (CAL) to increase daily flights to accommodate the surge in demand for the event, now in its fourth year. Speaking at a media conference on October 15 at the Magdalena Grand Beach and Golf Resort, Morris revealed that CAL’s management has declined to add new flights, despite the overwhelming interest in the carnival. He called on the Chief Secretary to intervene, emphasizing the importance of ensuring smooth travel for attendees from Trinidad and beyond. Reports indicate that hotels, villas, and guesthouses are nearly fully booked, with hoteliers expressing concerns that visitors may struggle to reach the island due to limited transportation options. In response, The Port Authority has announced additional roundtrips on the TT Spirit ferry between October 22 and 29, with four inter-island vessels operating outside their regular schedules. Dexter Sandy, president of the Tobago October Carnival Association (TOCO), had previously appealed for increased air and sea transport to support the event, highlighting the need for collaboration with Caribbean Airlines and the TT Inter-Island Ferry. The carnival’s official events, including the Monarchs of Mas, Pan Omega, and the Parade of Bands, are expected to draw significant crowds, further underscoring the urgency of addressing transportation challenges.

The Trinidad and Tobago Electricity Commission (T&TEC) has been mandated by the High Court to disclose its policy on installing high-tension power lines over private property within 14 days. Justice Frank Seepersad issued the ruling on October 15, 2024, following a legal challenge by Dr. Fayard Mohammed, who accused T&TEC of breaching its obligations under the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA).

Dr. Mohammed initiated the case after T&TEC installed power lines on his private property without providing the policy justifying such actions. Despite his initial request for information, T&TEC failed to respond within the legally required 30-day period, prompting Dr. Mohammed to seek judicial review. Justice Seepersad found T&TEC’s delay and subsequent refusal, citing the sub judice rule and allegations of a ‘fishing expedition,’ to be unlawful and unsupported by valid exemptions under the FOIA.

The judge emphasized that administrative inefficiency or resource constraints cannot excuse non-compliance with statutory obligations. He declared that T&TEC violated Sections 13, 15, and 23 of the FOIA by failing to notify Dr. Mohammed of its decision, provide written reasons for refusal, and uphold his legitimate expectation of lawful and fair processing of his request. Justice Seepersad also dismissed T&TEC’s claims of procedural abuse and nondisclosure, labeling them as disingenuous deflections.

In his ruling, Justice Seepersad underscored the importance of transparency and accountability, stating that the FOIA is designed to empower citizens to access information held by public bodies. He ordered T&TEC to pay Dr. Mohammed’s legal costs, reinforcing the principle that such requests are fundamental rights, not litigation tactics. Dr. Mohammed was represented by attorneys Farai Hove Masaisai and Chelsea Edwards, while T&TEC’s legal team included Senior Counsel Keith Scotland, Asha Watkins-Montserin, and Keisha Kydd-Hannibal.