FIXIN T&T gets leave to sue PATT over Ocean Flower and Cabo Star

A High Court judge in San Fernando yesterday granted leave to FIXIN T&T to seek judicial review against the Port Authority (PATT’s) failure to provide certain documents relating to procurement practices in contracts awarded to Bridgemans of Canada for the purchase of the Ocean Flower II and Cabo Star.

FIXIN T&T contended, in an application filed in the High Court, that the organisation, headed by Kirk Waithe, had written to the PATT on July 21 seeking acess to documents relating to the contract, under Section 13 of the Freedom of Information Act.

The lawsuit said the information concerned matters of public importance and in the public’s interest as it relates to the ongoing national discussion about the seabridge fiasco.

Filed by attorney Navindra Ramnanan, the lawsuit said the information requested was not forthcoming, hence the judicial review application.

The hearing began before Justice David Harris yesterday. But although the PATT was served with FIXIN T&T documents, it was not represented in court.

Waithe, in a statement yesterday, also said his organisation wrote to the Ministry of Works seeking access to the documentation but got no response. He expressed FIXIN T&T’s intention to file similar proceedings for judicial review against the ministry next week.

The matter has been adjourned to November 30.