FOI law gets official nod

| 12/12/2008

(CNS): How much of a real impact the introduction of an FOI law on Cayman’s traditionally tightlipped government offices will have remains to be seen, but the law will come into effect in the first week of the New Year. Speaking in the LA this week when the regulations were tabled, Kurt Tibbetts said it proved the current administration’s commitment to openness and transparency.

Following the tabling of the Freedom of Information (General) Regulations, 2008, in the Legislative Assembly, Governor Stuart Jack has announced that the Freedom of Information Law, 2007, will come into force on Monday, 5 January 2009. Addressing members of the LA, Leader of Government Business Kurt Tibbetts said Cayman was one of the few countries in the world that had continually sought public participation during all stages of the creation of the FOI Law and FOI Regulations.

 “We have proven our commitment to an open, transparent government in accordance with the current global FOI trends,” he said.  “As shown upon implementation in other jurisdictions worldwide, FOI legislation improves the relationship and trust between the government and the public, ensures greater efficiency in public sector management processes and allows for greater participation by the people in national decision-making.  Freedom of Information legislation plays a vital role in the system of constitutional democracy and as such…I am certain the entire Cayman Islands will reap FOI’s positive benefits.”

The commencement order was made in Cabinet according to section 1(2) of the FOI Law, and was published in Extraordinary Gazette #45 on Wednesday, 10 December 2008. It provides the public with a general right of access to records held by the Cayman Islands Government, and the FOI Regulations govern the administration of the FOI Law and include sections on the functions and duties of information managers, timelines and fees for FOI requests, third party rights, and provisions regarding the public interest test and personal information. For more information on the FOI Law and to learn how to make a request, visit www.foi.gov.ky .

 

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  1. Anonymous says:

     

      Freedom Of Information is a very nice thing to have in any Country, and I will wholeheartly agree that any Government should have a FOI law that will allow the Freedom of Information. While we must realise that not "all information can be made Public".

       I have always been very much concerned in the very statement made by your print here as to,,

       "How much of a real impact the introduction of an FOI law on Cayman’s traditionally tight lipped government offices will have remains to be seen" ? 

     Or does it happen like all the other Laws, gets pushed to the side in certain cases? With the Traditional tight lipped government.