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Government tables Freedom of Information legislation

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Nassau, Bahamas, February 1, 2017 – Freedom of Information, a revised version of the legislation was today presented in the House of Assembly by the Christie Administration and it is hailed as being good for democracy.  Minister responsible for soliciting public comments and contributions to the revamped law, Jerome Fitzgerald told media yesterday that it will be the media industry primarily accessing the information once made available, so that the public is better informed and government operations are more transparent.  

There had been a vigorous push for this legislation to come and now in the twilight of their tenure after the 2012 general elections, the bill finally makes its way back to Parliament for representatives’ ratification.  Minister Fitzgerald explained that despite criticisms, the PLP Government is very proud of the process, very proud of the participation adding that they found organizations to be helpful. 
 
On the flip side of this though, there is push back from ORG or Organisation for Responsible Government not only demanding to see the recommendations turned in to government as it went to public consultation on the FOIA, but it is citing that no government records should be exempt from being accessible to the public, that rights to access certain information should be reduced from 30 to 15 years and ORG charges that many recommendations were ignored by the Government in drafting the legislation. 
 
Still, the Minister calls it a milestone to be embraced. 
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