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Govt. reneges on Freedom of Information Bill again

Aug 07, 2010 News

Following several revised deadlines for the long awaited Freedom of Information legislation to be tabled in the National Assembly it appears that interested stakeholders will have to wait awhile longer.
Several Government Officials including Head of State Bharrat Jagdeo had said that the Bill would be tabled in the House by this August before the Parliamentary recess that commences Tuesday, with the final sitting on Monday.
The Bill is yet to be placed before the National Assembly.
When contacted yesterday as it relates to the fact that the Bill is yet to become a reality, People’s Progressive Party General Secretary Donald Ramotar said that it is not because of any lack of political will.
He said that all stakeholders agree that the legislation is important and necessary, but he stressed that the delay was as a result of the limited capacity as it relates to drafting.
Ramotar stated that it is not just the Freedom of Information Bill that is being affected, but a number of other Bills that are being drafted.
Leader of the Alliance For Change, Raphael Trotman, who had tabled and since put on pause a proposed bill, had recently told this newspaper that he was disappointed that the Government did not see it fit to support the Freedom of Information legislation.
He had noted that his disappointment was further fuelled by the fact that the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association had held a workshop for Parliamentarians and media operatives, where Freedom of Information (FOI) was extensively discussed.
He conceded that legislation such as the FOI will take time, but pointed out that there was a resounding call by Guyanese, who were now beginning to understand the importance of such a piece of legislation, as well as the calls from the international organisations.
Trotman emphasised that Freedom of Information is important for good governance and transparency.
The essence of the Freedom of Information Act, according to the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association (CPA), is the empowerment of the populace to request any piece of information (with few exceptions, such as medical records) held by a public authority.

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