The Freedom of Information Act
The Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) ensures that the public has access to information on the activities of the Government of Trinidad and Tobago. The Act is designed to support the following tenets of governance: transparency, accountability, equality of access, and empowerment and increased participation. Any citizen or non-national can request a copy of any document from a public authority, such as a government ministry, department or statutory body. Some public authorities and documents are exempt from the Act, but even exempted documents can be released when it is in the public's interest to do so. Members of the public can apply for access to official documents or to review their own personal information held by any public authority.
How do I make a request for access to information?
To access public documents, you must first obtain and fill out a "Request for Access to Official Documents" form. This form can be downloaded from the FOIA website by following the link at the end of this section. Forms can also be obtained from the public authority from which the documents are being requested, or from the address below:
Freedom of Information Division
Office of The Prime Minister
Level 6 Nicholas Tower
63-65 Independence Square
Port of Spain
Trinidad, West Indies
Fax. (868) 625-3833
Opening hours: 8:00 am to 4:00 pm, Monday to Friday, except public holidays
The completed Request for Access to Official Documents form must be submitted directly to the designated officer of the public authority from which the documents are being requested. To find out the name of the designated officer, contact the public authority directly or the Freedom of Information Division, Office of The Prime Minister at (868) 624- 4190 ext. 6024 or 6022. Request for Access to Official Documents form
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What happens next?
The designated officer of the relevant public authority must process the request by locating the requested information and obtaining a final decision on access. The officer must then respond in writing to the applicant within 30 calendar days from the time the request form is received, informing the applicant whether the request was refused or granted.
Where the request for access is granted, the public authority must contact the applicant and make the requested documents available within a reasonable timeframe. Where the request is refused, the applicant is entitled to receive a Notice of Refusal and the applicant has the right to challenge the decision by making a complaint in writing to the Ombudsman within 21 days of being refused access, or filing for judicial review of the decision within three months of the refusal. You can find more information on the Ombudsman by following the link below.
Office of the Ombudsman of Trinidad and Tobago
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Where can I find more information?
For more information on the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) , please visit the FOIA website by following the link below. You may also contact one of the following offices between the hours of 8:00 am and 4:00 pm, Monday to Friday, except public holidays:
Mr. Rishi Maharaj
Senior Freedom of Information Officer
Monitoring and Evaluation
Freedom of Information Division
Office of The Prime Minister
Level 6 Nicholas Tower
63-65 Independence Square
Port of Spain
Trinidad, West Indies
Tel. (868) 627-2664 ext. 6024
Email: maharajr@moi.gov.tt
Ms. Andrea Peters
Freedom of Information Officer
Client Relations and Training
Freedom of Information Division
Office of The Prime Minister
Level 6 Nicholas Tower
63-65 Independence Square
Port of Spain
Trinidad, West Indies
Tel. (868) 624-4190 Ext. 6020, 6022, or 6024
Email: petersa@moi.gov.tt
Freedom of Information Act
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