Tobago Correspondent
THA Minority Leader Kelvon Morris is urging Chief Secretary Farley Augustine to step in before legal action is taken against the Eco-Industrial Development Company of Tobago (E-IDCOT), over its refusal to provide information requested under the Freedom of Information Act.
At a media conference yesterday, Morris said, “I am asking the Chief Secretary to take disciplinary actions if this is not the position of the THA. If the THA doesn’t intervene, it suggests they are in agreement that this company is not subjected. It is unethical and unlawful, and there must be action against whoever made this declaration.”
He said a FOIA request was made by a member of the public to obtain details of E-IDCOT’s procurement process. It sought the proposal evaluation report, the identities of the evaluation committee members, the expert consultant, and the legal official engaged, as well as the name of the successful tenderer and the terms of engagement and contract.
Morris claimed E-IDCOT’s response was, “Please be advised that E-IDCOT, not being a public authority pursuant to Section 3 of the Freedom of Information Act Chapter 22:2, is not required to provide access to the requested documentation.”
“What, in essence, this CEO, empowered by a two-member board is saying to Tobago, is that this company that manages a multimillion-dollar asset in Cove, Manta Lodge, spends public monies by way of contract, and is owned by the THA, by the executive minded that created it and appoints its board, is not a public entity and is not subject to the FOIA. It suggests they are not subjected to any laws that deal with how public authorities administer public funds,” he said.
“I find this objectionable, reprehensible, and a slap in the face of every Tobagonian who trusted this administration to be transparent.”
He added, “Augustine and his team promised to be transparent. That has now completely vanished.”
Morris said the company, which manages over 50 per cent of projects across Tobago and a significant portion of THA assets, must be accountable to Tobagonians and be ready to face scrutiny when necessary.
E-IDCOT was established to manage facilities on the island and facilitate economic and industrial development.
Chief Secretary Farley Augustine and E-IDCOT Acting CEO Abena Richards could not be reached for comment yesterday