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2nd Session of the 13th Republican Parliament

The Freedom of Information (Amendment) Bill, 2026

An Act to amend the Freedom of Information Act, Chap. 22:02

The Freedom of Information (Amendment) Bill, 2026 (“the Bill”) seeks to amend sections 7, 8 and 9 of the Freedom of Information Act, Chap. 22:02 (“the Act”) and regulation 3(1)(b) of the Freedom of Information (Publication of Arrangements) Regulations, Chap. 22:02.

Clause 1 would provide for the short title of the proposed Act. Clause 2 would amend sections 7(1)(a) and (b), 8(2)(a) and (b), and 9(2)(a) and (b) of the Act and regulation 3(1)(b) of the Freedom of Information (Publication of Arrangements) Regulations, Chap. 22:02, to remove the requirement for the publication in a daily newspaper circulating in Trinidad and Tobago of a public authority’s annual public statements, and to replace it with a requirement for those statements to be published either in a daily newspaper circulating in Trinidad and Tobago or on a publicly accessible website.

Bill Essentials:
Bill No:
Senate Bill 11 of 2026
Introduced In:
Introduced On:
11-Sep-2026
Published In Gazette On
Vol.65 No.150, 11th September, 2026
Status
House of Representatives - 3rd Reading and Passage of the Bill

Progress

11 Sep 2026
Senate

Gazetted Bill

1 speakersShow Speakers
1.Sen. the Hon. John Jeremie, SC [Attorney General]
11 Sep 2026
2nd Reading of the Bill
9 speakersShow Speakers
1.Sen. the Hon. Dominic Smith [Minister of Public Administration and Artificial Intelligence]
2.Sen. Dr. Amery Browne [Opposition Senator]
3.Sen. Dr. Marlene Attzs [Independent Senator]
4.Sen. Anthony Vieira, SC [Independent Senator]
5.Sen. Francis Lewis [Independent Senator]
6.Sen. Wesley Gibbings [Independent Senator (Temporary)]
7.Sen. the Hon. Darrell Allahar [Minister in the Office of the Prime Minister]
8.Sen. Faris Al-Rawi, SC [Opposition Senator]
9.Sen. the Hon. Dominic Smith [Minister of Public Administration and Artificial Intelligence]
11 Sep 2026
Committee Stage

no amendments made

11 Sep 2026
3rd Reading and Passage of the Bill

Division: 29 for, 1 against, no abstentions

1 speakersShow Speakers
1.Sen. the Hon. Dominic Smith [Minister of Public Administration and Artificial Intelligence]
16 Sep 2026
House of Representatives
1st Reading of the Bill Hansard
1 speakersShow Speakers
1.Sen. the Hon. Dr. Kennedy Swaratsingh [Minister of Planning, Economic Affairs and Development and Minister in the Ministry of Finance]
16 Sep 2026
2nd Reading of the Bill Hansard
9 speakersShow Speakers
1.Sen. the Hon. Dr. Kennedy Swaratsingh [Minister of Planning, Economic Affairs and Development and Minister in the Ministry of Finance]
2.Mr. Stuart Young, SC, MP [Port-of-Spain North/St. Ann’s West] [Opposition Member]
3.Mr. Hansen Narinesingh, MP [Claxton Bay] [Parliamentary Secretary in the Ministry of Tertiary Education and Skills Training]
4.Mr. Dominic Romain, MP [Malabar/Mausica] [Opposition Member]
5.Mrs. Shivanna Sam, MP [Cumuto/Manzanilla] [Parliamentary Secretary in the Ministry of Public Utilities]
6.Mr. Hans Des Vignes, MP [Diego Martin West] [Opposition Member]
7.Mr. Joel Sampson, MP [Tobago West] [Member]
8.Mr. Keith Scotland, SC, MP [Port-of-Spain South] [Opposition Member]
9.Sen. the Hon. Dr. Kennedy Swaratsingh [Minister of Planning, Economic Affairs and Development and Minister in the Ministry of Finance]
16 Sep 2026
Committee Stage Hansard

no amendments made

16 Sep 2026
3rd Reading and Passage of the Bill Hansard
1 speakersShow Speakers
1.Sen. the Hon. Dr. Kennedy Swaratsingh [Minister of Planning, Economic Affairs and Development and Minister in the Ministry of Finance]
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