The Jamaica Environment Trust, JET, has won the first round of its court battle with the government, over the administration’s refusal to accede to a request for information relating to the port facility to be built on the Goat Islands.
The request was made by JET under the Access to Information Act.
The Supreme Court ruled today that Certificates of Exemption, issued by the Finance Minister, Dr. Peter Phillips and which effectively barred JET from getting the information, was incorrectly issued.
The certificates were issued in January and May this year and sought to declare the documents exempt under the ATI Act.
JET’s legal team was led today by Queens Counsel Hugh Small and included its staff attorneys Danielle Andrade and Lisa Hamilton.
The attorney for Dr. Phillips, Carlene Larmond conceded that the Minister had no authority to issue the certificates.
The issue of costs in relation to the case against Minister Phillips is to be decided in court tomorrow.
The matter in relation to the Port Authority’s refusal to provide information to JET will be heard on June 3 and 4 next year.
–30–
