It’s hard to believe that the Freedom of
Information Law has now been in effect since January 2009 in the Cayman
Islands.
This week we celebrate Right to Know Week
in an effort to further educate everyone about Freedom of Information and the
public’s right to know what goes on in our government.
This year’s theme – It’s Yours … Just Ask
– should let everyone know that obtaining information from public authorities
is simple and anyone can make a request in writing, even by e-mail.
Starting today, there will be one page in
the Caymanian Compass each day of the week dedicated to your Right to Know and
Freedom of Information.
This week’s activities will culminate on
International Right to Know Day on Friday, 28 September.
On that day, the Cayman Islands will join
60 other jurisdictions to celebrate the use of FOI and stress the importance of
government accountability. To show solidarity, everyone is asked to wear
something blue on Friday.
While some in government would like to see
FOI go away, we think it’s here to stay and would agree that most government
agencies and groups welcome the chance to be more transparent.
Recently, the Caymanian Compass reported
that it is taking much longer for government to respond to open records
requests than it did three years ago. But there is good news, because
government is becoming more open – more requests are being granted over time.
Information Commissioner Jennifer Dilbert
believes, and so do we, that the Freedom of Information Law is being taken
seriously and that the culture of openness is finally taking hold in the Cayman
Islands.
It also means that members of the public
are getting more comfortable with the law and aren’t afraid to ask for
information.
Many activities surrounding Right to Know
will occur this week. For a full listing, turn to Page 6 of today’s Caymanian
Compass. We encourage the public to continue to demand openness and
transparency from the government through FOI and learn this week how you can
use your Right to Know.
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Kudos to the Caymanian Compass for the information and timeliness of this Editorial. Also, for the decision by the Compass to publish one page each week day that is dedicated to the public’s Right to Know and Freedom of information. It is gratifying to be aware that the public is becoming more comfortable with the law and can obtain information without hesitation.
I read with profound interest in the September 24 issue of the Compass that Cayman is one of the trail blazers in the Caribbean for Freedom of Information legislation.
Information is knowledge and must not be privatized or selective. The lack of information leads to ignorance, misunderstanding, confusion, and subsequently chaos at times. However, admittedly, there may just be particular information which might contain sensitive or classified material that would legitimately deny access by the seeker. I do not know if there is an exception clause in the Freedom of Information law that addresses this situation.
It should be clearly understood that any democratically elected government must conduct the business of its people with complete openness and transparency for the good of the country.
I join with you all from New York in celebrating Right to Know Week and wish you great success in the ongoing effort to promote and educate the public about Freedom of Information. It is the right to know what is actually goes on in the elected government.