Premier cites safety issues
A Freedom of Information request for security costs for politicians resulted in responses for how much was spent by the opposition party when it was in power, but a refusal to disclose what costs have been incurred by current government ministers, including the Premier.
In a response to a 15 September FOI request filed by the Caymanian Compass, Premier McKeeva Bush responded this month that disclosing information relating to security costs for government members, ministers, Deputy Premier Juliana O’Connor-Connolly and the premier, could endanger the lives and safety of those government members.
Citing Section 24(b) of the Freedom of Information Law in an emailed response, Mr. Bush said it “requires that we take into consideration the public interest and whereas we always endeavour to release information to promote accountability for public expenditure, it was felt that such a disclosure in this instance would allow persons to discern the security measures utilised and endanger the safety of the Cabinet ministers.”
Section 24(b) exempts a record from disclosure if it would, or would be likely to, endanger the physical or mental health of any individual; or endanger the safety of any individual.
Mr. Bush also cited section 16(a) of the law, which exempts the disclosure of records if it would, or could reasonably be expected to, endanger any person’s safety. Earlier this year, in a speech in the Legislative Assembly, the premier revealed how much public money had been spent on security measures at the homes of each member of the People’s Progressive Movement who had received new or upgraded security systems when they were in power.
He said at the time that he was disclosing the information about the People’s Progressive Movement government members’ security costs to combat what he described as “misleading statements” about how much his administration was spending on security for its members.
Information relating to security costs for the Premier has previously been released to the public. In response to an open records request earlier this year, the Cabinet published on its online disclosure log the sums of money spent on security for Mr. Bush’s West Bay home between December 2009 and May 2010. Since becoming premier, security measures have been enhanced at Mr. Bush’s home because he hosts official functions there, The FOI request revealed that he had spent nearly $42,000 on a security system, including closed circuit television cameras and an intruder alarm, for his home in West Bay, and that his on-site security guard services cost $45,600 for that six month period.
A request by the Compass for information relating to security costs incurred by the PPM received responses from some, though not all, of the various ministries they were involved in.
Only one ministry responded with information regarding security costs for a sitting government minister, stating that the minister had incurred no costs for security measures paid for by that ministry.
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