Freedom of information coming

Hon Kurt Tibbetts, Leader of Government  Business	Barrie Quappe, Radio Producer	Roy Bodden, Human Rights Activist

Friday,  October 14, 2005

Legislation for the long awaited freedom of information act has recently been proposed, and the Leader of Government, Business Hon Kurt Tibbetts has announced that a draft of the ‘Access to Information Bill’ is being circulated for comment for 90 days and will then be brought to the Legislative Assembly.

“This Bill, which will apply to all governmental departments, public authorities and government companies will give the public access to much government information, which is presently treated as secret,” said Mr Tibbetts.

“This new law, when it comes into effect, will act as an important companion to the work for the Complaints Commissioner and serve to significantly improve accountability, performance and transparency across the entire public sector.”

He added that although it is called a Bill for a Law to give to the public a General Right of Access to Official Documents, it is actually the “long-awaited freedom of information bill.”

Roy Bodden said he is excited that after so many years of debate within Government, it looks like it will finally come to pass.

“It will also aid in the development of human rights and the understanding of human rights,” said Mr Bodden, who explained that some information should not be made available to the public such as the Cabinet discussions, because of national security. However, information regarding Government decisions such as the Department of Planning, Immigration Boards, public health and education should be made available. Moreover, this is the information the public will primarily be interested in.

“I think the freedom of information act along with its companion legislation of establishing a Complaints Commission and the Human Rights Commission will put the Cayman Islands on its way to a sophisticated society in which freedom and democracy is essentially available to all people,” said Mr Bodden.

Numerous members of the media are also excited about the pending legislation for freedom of information.

Radio personality Barrie Quappe from Rooster 101.1 said that although she has not seen the documents yet, she hopes the freedom of information act will be similar to the US and the UK.

“It will be a great help to understand the government better so that we in the news media can provide more information to the public and the public can participate from a more informed position.”

Ms Quappe recalled that several years ago a freedom of information act had been aggressively debated in the Legislative Assembly, but nothing came of it.

So the announcement that a freedom of information legislation is in the works is promising.

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