Latest update March 21st, 2025 7:03 AM
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Access to Information Act activated
– Charles Ramson Sr. appointed Commissioner of Information
Former Attorney General, Charles R. Ramson Sr. has been appointed Commissioner of Information by President Donald Ramotar, hence enforcing the Access to Information Act of 2011.
Journalists and other members of the public would now be able to access information on public authorities. The Act does not cater for access to information held by private entities or confidential records that would threaten national security.
Cabinet Secretary Dr. Roger Luncheon made this announcement yesterday during his post-Cabinet press briefing at the Office of the President, where the Commission will be housed.
Charles Ramson Sr.
According to the Act, the President is tasked with appointing the Commissioner, who shall be a person of eminence in public life with wide knowledge in science and technology, social service, management, journalism, mass media or administration and governance.
The Act provides for “setting out a practical regime of right to information for persons to secure access to information under the control of public authorities in order to promote transparency and accountability in the working of the Government and public authorities and for the appointment of the Commissioner of Information.”
Announcement of the Commissioner’s appointment that signals the first stage in implementing the Act comes several weeks after the International Press Institute said it was pushing Government to enact the Access to Information Act.
During an Investigative Workshop, Alison Bethel McKenzie, IPI’s Executive Director said that the body was aware of the issue of limited access to information from Government offices in Guyana. The IPI was prepared to encourage trade partners to apply pressure to ensure that Government enacts the Law.
According to Dr. Luncheon, under applicable provisions of the Act the Commissioner of Information has powers to provide access to information if so requested and to publish information or categories of information.
He noted that the Commissioner of Information essentially helps to organize information management in public authorities, disclose its existence to the public and promote access to such information by the public.
The Commissioner is expected to present the Minister of Information with an annual report.
According to the Government Information Agency (GINA), the Access to Information Bill was passed in the National Assembly on September 15, 2011. President Bharrat Jagdeo assented to the Act on September 27, 2011.
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