More often than not, we do get it right in the Cayman
Islands.
Take for example our Freedom of Information Law.
While not everyone appreciates the fact that we have a law
that allows members of the public to access certain information, it is
important in a democracy to know what our government is up to.
Most of the stuff the Caymanian Compass and others request
is just that – information. We aren’t interested in state secrets or
information that would put our country at any kind of risk. But we do need to
know how our money is spent, decisions made and the outcomes of those
decisions.
So far FOI has been successful in the Cayman Islands; so
much so that other countries in the Caribbean and around the world are
beginning to take notice of what we’re doing right.
Bermuda, Bahamas and Guernsey have drawn extensively on
Cayman’s Freedom of Information Law in adopting their own legislation or in
taking steps to toward a more open and transparent government.
And really, that’s what FOI is all about – more transparent
government. Cayman’s FOI law is supposedly under review by a special committee,
although we aren’t privy to what that review entails.
We find it ironic that a review of a law that encourages
transparency in government be done without public inclusion.
But we do agree that a review of the law is correct so that
it can only be made stronger and government become even more transparent.
We hope that the review only serves to strengthen the law;
not to do away with it.
There are some in government who don’t like the idea of
freedom of information. We would ask why. Most of the information sought under
the Freedom of Information legislation should be public anyway. And several
government bodies have already worked hard an making information about meetings
and minutes available without requests.
The age of secrecy in the governing of our Islands must come
to an end. We realise this with FOI legislation and it appears we have taken a
lead. Others are watching and prepared to adopt our style of FOI.
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As FDR said, there is nothing to fear but fear itself.
I applaud the government for their continued efforts in providing timely information requested by the media.
As a matter of protocol, government information to the public should be a push through the media instead of a pull by the editor. Whereby information will become a matter of routine and lest of a scramble to adjust to request.
I applaud the editor for their continued tenacious pulling on our behalf until then.