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‘Information Commission useless’
—PNCR says Govt wasting millions with Ramson at helm
Kaieteur News- Opposition Leader, Aubrey Norton has described the Office of the Commissioner of Information as useless and a waste of public funds as the system has failed to serve Guyanese.
A section of protestors in front of the Office of the Commissioner of Information, Charles Ramson (senior) on Friday
The Leader said he supports the protest action that citizens have embarked on, given the lack of access to information in Guyana. He made these comments during his weekly press conference on Friday.
Norton said, “The Commissioner of Information, Charles Ramson Snr. unwillingness to provide the public with information is an integral part of the PPP government’s effort to undermine transparency and accountability and the right of citizens to know and be informed.”
The Leader of the People’s National Congress Reform (PNCR) explained that the Opposition also faces disappointment in its effort to access information through the Office. He said, “On 16th February 2023, I, as Leader of the Opposition, dispatched a “Request for Access to Official documents”, under the Access to Information Act 2011, to Commissioner Ramson, requesting the radio and television programme logs of the National Communications Network (NCN), showing its coverage of that year’s budget debate in the National Assembly.”
Norton said the request was triggered by NCN’s blatant one-sided coverage of budget debates where it carried mostly the presentations of PPP MPs. According to him, the opposition’s request was refused. Consequently, the Leader explained, “The commissioner’s absurd responses to our legitimate request prompted us to publicly declare that Mr. Ramson’s continued occupation of the position renders the office useless, a waste of public funds, and a disservice to the people of Guyana. Today, we still hold that view.”
The Opposition Leader was keen to note that a properly functioning and competent Office of the Commissioner of Information is a critical agent of change on behalf of the people, especially at a time when the PPP regime has become more disdainful of the public and the Parliament, is becoming more secretive, less accountable, and is more incompetent and corrupt. “There is, therefore, a need for a proper Commissioner of Information,” the Leader said.
Office of the Commissioner of Information
Scores of Guyanese from various walks of life on Friday picketed Ramson’s East Street Georgetown office over his failure to fulfill the duties prescribed by the Access to Information Act (2011). The activity was supported by the members of the press, Red Thread, Guyana Trades Union Congress (GTUC), Transparency Institute Guyana Inc. (TIGI), Opposition Members of Parliament, lawyers and other members of civil society, including former Georgetown Mayor, Ubraj Narine.
Most citizens at the exercise, organised by Attorney-at-Law and advocate for good governance, Christopher Ram called for the removal of Ramson from his post. Ram has encouraged Guyanese to continue to support the picket exercise that will continue next week at the same venue from 12 noon. He was also keen to note that the protest is likely to shift to the Office of the President, should the activity fail to bear any fruit.
(‘Information Commission useless’)
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