Tobago Airport Employee wins Judicial Review

Tobago-based employee NATASHA CHARLES, has won her Judicial Review matter against the Airports Authority of Trinidad and Tobago. In a Judgment delivered yesterday in the High Court, Justice Joan Charles ruled in favour of NATASHA CHARLES, quashing her suspension by the Airports Authority and ordering that all investigations be ceased and held that the Defendant (Airports Authority), breached the rules of natural justice by commencing an investigation against the claimant and concluding same without giving her the opportunity to make representations which may have addressed the material possessed by the Defendant against her and may have produced an outcome other than the Defendant’s decision to suspend her.

Natasha Charles was represented by Attorneys MARTIN GEORGE & CO in the Judicial Review claim filed against the Airports Authority, who were represented by Keith Scotland.

Justice Charles further ruled that -: Procedural fairness generally requires that persons liable to be directly affected by proposed administrative acts, decisions or proceedings be given adequate notice of what is proposed, so that they may be afforded an opportunity to make representations on their own behalf, or to appear at a hearing or inquiry, or to prepare

their own case and to answer the case (if any) that they have to meet; and that -: the Defendant(Airports Authority) has breached the rules of natural justice and has failed to act in a fair manner during the alleged investigation of the Claimant.

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