00:00Attorney at law and former PNM MP Randall Mitchell has written to the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Energy
00:06and Energy Industries formally invoking the Freedom of Information Act on behalf of social commentator Wendell Eversley.
00:14The request targets documents connected to the Refinery Restored Committee, also referred to as the Refinery Reactivation Committee, a body
00:24established to examine the future of refinery operations in Trinidad and Tobago.
00:30In correspondence dated February 24th, Mitchell says his client is seeking access to official documents held by the Ministry and
00:37public authorities under its portfolio.
00:40Among the documents requested, the final terms of reference approved by Cabinet for the Committee, including details of its mandate,
00:48composition, scope of work and deliverables, Cabinet notes and Cabinet minutes related to the establishment and operation of the Committee,
00:56any records concerning remuneration paid to Committee members, and the Committee's final report, together with all supporting annexures and appendices.
01:06The request was made under Section 13 of the Freedom of Information Act, which allows citizens to access official documents
01:14held by public authorities.
01:15Mitchell's letter emphasizes that if any of the requested documents are deemed exempt from disclosure, the Ministry must apply the
01:23public interest test outlined in Section 35 of the Act,
01:27weighing the benefit of transparency against any potential harm from disclosure.
01:33The correspondence argues that public access to the terms of reference on the final report is critical, particularly given the
01:40national significance of refinery operations.
01:42It notes that decisions regarding the sector attract energy security, public finances, employment and the broader economy.
01:51The attorney has given the Ministry 30 days to respond as prescribed in the Act.
01:56The letter further warns that failure to comply could result in judicial review proceedings under Section 39 of the Act.
02:04The Refinery Restored Committee was established amid ongoing discussions about the future of refining operations in Trinidad and Tobago,
02:12a matter that has generated intense public and political scrutiny.
02:17Arvishita Wari Ruparain, TV6 News.
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