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Continued thwarting of access to information
(Kaieteur News) – From English Literature, the world was gifted, “the law is an ass.” Considering what is happening to citizens petitioning Guyana’s Office of Access to Information, it could be said that the law is being made into an ass, a complete one. What emanates from that office is no less than shocking, with the sting of being insulting. Still more shocking is the reaction of Guyana’s President Irfaan Ali, as though access to information does not matter that much, is not worth his intervention.
The law is clear. Citizens who petition in the proper form and manner for information from the Office of the Commissioner of Access to Information have a right to that information. Once the information is not in a prohibited category, there is a duty to deliver what is requested. Citizens have tried impressing that on the commissioner of information. They have not received much of anything, other than the commissioner attempts at being funny that have provoked anger more than humour. A judge issued a ruling, which compels the release of information, pursuant to the provisions in law. The commissioner has not changed his attitude (no to many information requests), has not changed his position (no, despite the order of a judge), and has not changed his
resistance to requests for information, some of which are years old (no, for he knows the source of his strength). It is surprising that a man steeped in the law, could be so casual about it, unusually dismissive of it.
Past petitioners have repetitioned. Old requestors have renewed their requests. There they dangle, held to the whim of the Commissioner of the Office to Access to Information. President Ali has tried his best to keep his distance from the access to information contradiction. A law exists, but it is of no standing. The president is, after all is said and done, Guyana’s chief minister of information. When he does not override, does not direct, the commissioner to respond appropriately and timely to requests for information, what message does he send? That he supports the actions of the commissioner? That he is nervous of some of the information requested could be damaging to his government? That he does not have the fullest grasp of what the Access to Information Act mandates? Or, that, President Ali does have more than a working grasp of the requirements of the law, and will get around to commanding the commissioner to do his job? To earn his pay, justify the trust placed in him? Except, for the president, the present time is not the best time for him to act.
With each legitimate request for information denied or delayed by the commissioner, the president is embarrassed, made to look impotent. With each written communication sent to his attention and not provoking any presidential action, the president adds to his own discredit. A leader that is at a loss on how to address what calls for commonsense, so cut-and-dried it is. Information requests complied with, because it can be released, it is part of an approved category. Or information denied, and for good reason, the law does not allow it.
When the commissioner finds joy in mocking and degrading those seeking information, some of his mockeries and degradations must rub off on the president. It distils to this. Who is running this country, the president or the commissioner? Who has the first and last say, the say that matters, the president or the commissioner? President Ali does not do himself and his government any favours, when he stands aside and leave the law and the ruling of a member of the judiciary to be subjected to the same games that have been going on for years. We do not know what President Ali is afraid of, nor what exposures of his government could be part of some of the information requested. What we do know, however, is that the president makes himself look weak and ineffective, while making the commissioner of information appear strong and invincible.
We have one last question: is the commissioner of information put where he is to function exactly as he does? Because the PPP/C Government has so many secrets to hide.
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Comrade the wrong people are requesting information they are not entitled to & which is no use to them but some ‘sinister purposes’!!!
“we know the man , all of us know the man”!!!
Ramson’s judgement & banter are appropriate!!!
Sooner or later GHK Lall would seek his own ‘information’ also!!! Irritating & provocative!!!
Ramson will deal with him accordingly & appropriately with some of his own medicine!!!