Senior Reporter
derek.achong@guardian.co.tt
Works and Transport Minister Rohan Sinanan has been asked to disclose the studies and reports he considered in recently deciding to alter the speed limits for certain roads and intersections.
The disclosure request, under the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA), was made by lawyers for blogger Vishal Persad in a letter sent yesterday to Sinanan and the official of his ministry responsible for responding to such requests.
In the legal correspondence, obtained by Guardian Media, attorney Keron Ramkhalwhan claimed that his client, who is the administrator of the blog “Millennials for Change 868”, is seeking the reports as part of a study to determine if the new speed limits were arbitrarily imposed and were unconstitutional.
“The FOIA applicant (Persad) intends to highlight corruption, misappropriation of public funds, environmental issues, socio-economic issues, racism and gender equality through his projects,” Ramkhalwhan said.
He noted that over the past few years, Sinanan had utilised his power under the Motor Vehicles and Road Traffic Act to adjust the speed limit for certain roads.
He added that the most recent came last Thursday when changes were made to two sections of the Lady Young Road in Morvant, parts of the Western Main Road, a section of the South Trunk Road and roads and ramps connected to the Curepe Interchange.
“At no material time has the Minister of Works and Transport disclosed the documents and/or information considered to formulate the speed limits imposed by the Special Speed Limit Orders,” he said.
Sinanan and the ministry were given until July 14 to respond to the request.