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125 responses to “Government Distributes Freedom of Information Bill For Feedback As Promised”
While the proposal looks good, I would have to really study the document before I make a definitive on it. As far as confidentiality is concerned, the old question comes up ” who will guard the guards? how would one be confident that information given would not be leaked out and a name attached?
Well done, DLP. First promise achieved and no thanks to the naysayers!! Now, for scrutiny and hope that it achieves the standards which we expect of it! We look forward, too, to the promised ‘Integrity Legislation’ and its promised high aims and responsibilities!! Let’s make Barbados the first black, country of which we may be truly, proud!!
Hopefully, BFP will now stop their cussing and join in the objective and elevated, scrutiny of this proposed legislation, which is so badly, required!!
Not to mention ALL MPs and other knowledgable and responsible, people and authorities of B’dos!!
[…] government distributes the draft Freedom of Information Bill for feedback, prompting Barbados Underground to encourage citizens to read it and make suggestions: “This is what democracy is about, […]
Bimbro // October 9, 2008 at 6:48 am said …. “Hopefully, BFP will now stop their cussing and join in the objective and elevated, scrutiny of this proposed legislation, which is so badly, required!!”
I submit that were it not for the “cussing” this proposed legislation may never have seen the light of day.
In the medical world there is now a new paradigm which is not yet in use by the ‘average’ medical practitioner but thanks to the bloggers the field of alternative medicine is damaging the hold that pharmaceutical Companies have on doctors… who mean well most of the time… but who are only trained with a limited focus.
In the world of information, the blogs are a voice of the people and they very much are forcing politicians to be on their toes.
This is not a time to sit back and be self-congratulatory, but rather to keep carrying the fight.
@Snake
We agree 100%.
While congratulating the government let us remember we were here before and floundered.
While we are satisfied that the government has decided to put on the internet a draft Freedom of Information Bill for possible scrutiny and input by internet users, what we must herein say is that even if there is a Freedom of Information Act that is enacted in the Parliament of this country and that is assented to by the Governor General of Barbados – the fact of the matter is that such – along with the passage and proclamation of Integrity Legislation in the country too – will MAINLY SERVE to bring about a lower level of ACCOUNTABILITY, TRANSPARENCY AND INTEGRITY CULTURE in this country.
Thus, if a Freedom of Information Act becomes part of the laws of this land, that will mainly serve to make sure that the public has access to and could acquire certain types of governmental information and documentation NOT previously accessible or obtainable. But, by seeking to balance those legal and governmental aspects with individual and group rights to privacy, individual and group rights to confidentiality, with laws that protect banking and corporate secrecy, that protect individual and group rights to a fair trial, laws that protect national security and public morality and decency, etc. it would be clear that CONTROL of this type of information and documentation will still lie in the hands of the government, to a greater extent, and in the hands of any courts or tribunals that would have jurisdiction over proceedings determining disputes concerning Freedom of Information Laws or any facts that are concerned therewith, to a lesser extent.
So, right away one can see that there will be NO GREAT LEAP FORWARD in the governance and social responsibility affairs of this country. But, in order to achieve A GREAT LEAP FORWARD in the goverance and social responsibility of this country, there must be the election of a PDC Government that will make sure that a higher level of ACCOUNTABLITY, TRANSPARENCY AND INTEGRITY IN GOVERNANCE AND SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY is achieved in Barbados by making sure that: –
1) Sovereign power lies in the hands of the people vis-a-vis constitutional changes that will provide for Constituents to debate and pass the laws of this country in Constituency Assemblies set up across the country;
2) A system of parochialism is enshrined in the constitutional afairs of this country, and which will allow for citizens living in the parishes of this country to elect parish councils that shall assist in the running of the affairs of those parishes;
3) A system of national coalition government is enshrined in the constitutional affairs of the country – and that will make sure that NOT ONLY parties are represented in it, BUT ALSO that non-party political groups and independents are also represented in it;
4) There is the setting up of a permanent Public Defense Subsidiary of the State that allows for any accused persons or plaintiffs to access and obtain state legal counsel in any criminal or civil matters in this country;
5) There is the outlawing of the practice whereby police (executive) prosecute criminal matters in the Magistrate Courts (judicial) of this country, in flagrant violation of the seperation of powers principle;
6) There is the creation of a Rapid Intervention Force that shall play an intervening role between people in Barbados and a newly reconstituted law enforcement agency in Barbados – National Investigation Bureau;
7) There is established a system of Triable on the Spot Offences Courts, which shall be headed by Recorders ( junior Judges) and which shall have responsibility for criminal and civil matters that will be started by aggrieved persons simply appearing before the courts and making certain allegations of injustice or personal injury, etc.,whereupon the recorders having heard the allegations will solely authorise the police to investigate the allegations and whereby on the basis of the progress of the cases will the ONLY persons to charge any persons or authorise litigation proceedings in Barbados;
8) There is the National Election of All Supreme Court and Court of Appeal Judges;
9) There is the Abolition of ALL Taxation in Barbados;
10) The Abolition of Interest Rates in the country; and,
11) The establishment of regime whereby ALL Institutional Loans for Productive Purposes shall be made Non-Repayable.
Surely, those and other far more important PDC Manifesto propositions shall when implemented by a future PDC Government help tremendously in the achievement of a far greater level of ACCOUNTABILITY, TRANSPARENCY AND INTEGRITY in this country than the ordinary enacted of Freedom of Information Laws and Integrity Legislation.
PDC
David, I am sure you and all the blp and DLP members, will all want to join with me in complimenting the New Government on its swift and decisive action in making this a reality, despite the rants of those over at BFP that seemed to hope that it would never see the light the New Government has delivered in a most timely manner, this is sensible level headed Government with A Very Capable Leader In person of The Hon Mr.David Thompson.
We are seeing real progress not only on matters such as infrastructure, we are seeing real and meaningful attention being paid to SOCIAL programs and care being shown to every sector of this Barbadian society.
This is the aspect of govenance that was so badly lacking under the former adminstration that Arthur and Mottley were overseers of, the need to see the value of the Barbadian people to the development of Barbados and to faciliate the Barbadian people to help develope our nation Barbados.
In a short ten months the Prime Minister and his cabinet have transformed the landscape of this island both socially and morally with innovative refreshing programs that have not attached an undue burden to the treasury.
My compliments to the Prime Minister The Hon Mr.David Thompson and his hard working team for putting Barbados first and foremost and bringing back respect to the office of Prime Minister and giving Barbadian people a new person centered and valued approach and empowering the Barbadian people.
Interesting piece of legislation, the only problem, Will it be followed? Remember we have all types all laws governing our actions but seems to catching cobweb. However, on a positive note, I am proud to see such laws and will spend time analysing them before commenting. WIV, I will check the sections of the laws you constantly runs afoul.
WIV,
This is not a reality yet. We have to study it, make it what it needs to be and then see that it is implemented.
Don’t forget that they were talking about Integrity Legislation since the 60’s and it has not happened yet. Not even a draft.
no name,
You can rest assured that this is not a Tom Adams nor an Owing Arthur run administration this is a new beginning with new fresh thoughts and actions and you can relax in the knowledge that it will be presented to the in draft form sooner than you can guess.
Let us remember that the former blp administration paid only lip servie to this matter but we are now seeing under a DLP Gov’t real and meaningful action being put into ation.
I sincerely want to thank the people of Barbados for their insight and their wisdom in evicting the corrupt bunch of the blp from offie and installing the new DLp to offie where we are now seeing real progress in terms of social, moral and respect being reestablished in this island.
Who’s cussing the blogs, not me!! I’m simply saying that now’s the time to stop the cussing and start the working!! There’s a difference!!
Don’t be ultrasensitive Bimbro! No
one said you were cussin’ de blog!
To PDC ~ can’t you paraphrase your submissions into 2 paragraphs? Then readers would read what you say.
All that verbiage turns folks away.
Snake, it’s obvious that PDC has got no sense at all, he’s been advised about that more than once but keeps going in his blind, zombie-like way, ignoring what anybody says to him!!
There must b a word for such people but I can’t think of it, at the moment, bro!! Save ur breath!! He’s probably, also, too, stupid to realise that nobody will read that junk!!
He likes to bloviate and he’s actually vertiginous. He should be more laconic. I’ll be interesting to see if he’ll remain so pervicacious with his fatuous style.
I am in support of the freedom of information bill and integrity legislation but already persons are starting to move the goal posts by using but and if. The freedom of information bill was promised and now the discussions begin. The government will deliver on these promises because the electorate is not in any good mood for governments breaking promises that are within their control. You can argue that the cost of living is driven by external forces but what would the argument be about these two promises.
“despite the rants of those over at BFP that seemed to hope that it would never see the light the New Government has delivered in a most timely manner”
swift and timely?
are you on medications?
BFP and the citizens of Barbados would like nothing better to see full ITAL and FIA and will give credit when credit is due.
If it weren’t for blogs like Keltruth that embarrased the PM at the UN there is a good chance the bureaucrats and politicians would still be drifting aimlessly along with zero accountability and communication.
It is only constant pressure of critical issues like this that result in real and fundamental change.
Now lets start reading the fine print and commenting instead of congratulating ourselves when only 5% of the job is done.
Where is the promised Ministerial code?
Respect is earned and maybe Thompson will get there slowly and surely. The last PM certainly left office without any respect .
We will not be so harsh as to berate the government on this issue as yet. PM Thompson we are certain understands that his party’s platform run on corruption and the promise to root it out along with the promise to implement the legislative framework to prevent will be scrutinized next election.
Let us stop the talk and download the document and begin to offer constructive feedback.
Maybe we can start the ball rolling by asking for clarification on the following clause in the draft FOI:
6(2)This Act applies to the exclusion of the provisions of any other law that prohibits or restricts the disclosure of a record by a public authority to the extent that such provision is inconsistent with this Act.
We assume that there will be some conflict with the requirements of the FOI bill and the Official Secrets Act which governs the civil establishment in Barbados. We welcome a quick clarification on how these two bills will work side by side as far as our query goes.
@BU Family… For anyone who cares…
I have made a first pass across the document. Lots of red ink, but overall, I’m impressed.
I treat legal language as nothing but software; and through that lens it would crash on the first run. But that’s simply a matter of a bit of debugging (variables misdefined; variables not defined, code repeated, etc)…
I would encourage all of you to read, paragraph by paragraph, word by word, the document presented, and provide feedback.
(For example, how many of you noticed that on page 17 a subsection 2(A) and 2(B) is referenced, but no subsection 2 exists?)
I will be writing up a feedback document to the authorities on my observations, and will provide to the BU Family a link to my resultant document.
This is the *perfect* time for open analysis…
Kindest regards to all.
@David…
Good catch… I Am Not A Lawyer (IANAL), and I have *no* idea what that language actually means.
Perhaps those amongst us who AAL can explain to us simpletons the ramifications of this particular paragraph?
@David…
It just hit me… (I think…)
Paragraph 6.2 is saying that where another law prohibits the release of information this stands, *except* where “such prohibition is inconsistent with this Act”.
As in, this act actually takes precedence.
(Unless I’m misunderstanding the language. Again, I’m sure we’d all be *very* happy to hear from a true and trained legal mind on this.)
It could have been copied from another legislation and the person forget to connect the sections. Remember the first draft?
Someone please help me here.
How is it that other countries have tried and tested Freedom of Information, Integrity Legislation, Conflict of Interest Rules etc. and we talk like we need to start from scratch? Like we are the first country in the World to do this exercise?
Surely we can take the best parts of the Acts from other countries and change and add what we need to them.
Sounds like using the start from scratch method is going to make this take a very long time to get anything implemented.
@Tell me Why, no name… Please work with us here… *Work* is the key word…
Yes, there’s lots of prior art, and frankly, that’s where we’re working from, but there’s still some work to be done *here*… We are a soverion nation, after all…
So let’s get to it… (It only involves a bit of reading…)
@All… I also take some issue with section 26 (page 20 and 21) which defines the forms of access…
Nowhere here do I see electronic access defined. In fact, 26.1.c suggests that if a piece of information is in visual or audible form, that it is to be made available to be viewed or heard…
How about being presented in an (open) digital format?
In the case of raw data, how about CSV or TSV formats?
We have a bit of work to do… But lets not throw the baby out with the bath water…
David, section 6(2) means that if any other legislation prevents the disclosure of information by the Government, it is no longer in force to the extent that such provision conflicts with this Act. So if this Act says that government must release information and the other legislation says no, then this Act rules…the information must be released.
@All…
You know, I have to take some great offence here… (And may cause some offence in the following…)
After nine months of us whining about the lack of Freedom of Information Legislation, we’re provided with a draft document, with the opportunity to speak to same…
But, Gods forbid, we’re asked to provide feedback, rather than being provided said on a silver platter…
And then we whine! “Waaa!!! You’re asking us to read!!!”
How pathetic are we? (Seriously.)
We always love to say how many of us can read. But can we analyse? Can we understand? Can we write? Can we think?
(Please forgive me for this, but…) PROOF IT!!! Step up to the plate, or quit (f’ing) complaining…
(Again, please forgive me for my above. But, at the same time, I ask you think about said above… And, hopefully, step up!)
Amid crisis, states forced to take “drastic action” – States slashing Budgets, axing jobs, halting major construction projects
With the economy in a slide, and the credit market seized up, states are slashing budgets, eliminating jobs, putting major construction projects on hold and nervously waiting to see whether their shriveled pension funds recover.
They are als oweighing lawsuits against Wall Streeet firms. And at least one state – California – may ask Washington to come to th rescue.
Sigh…
@PDC: you are empirically able to write large volumes of language… That is only half (or less) of the required skill set…
Tell me, do you (or anyone else) see any issue with the proposed Freedom of Information Act, section 25?
Specifically: “…but in any case not later than three working days where the document already exists at the time of making the request and two weeks after the day on the request is received by or on behalf of the Ministry or prescribed authority, where the document does not yet exist or is not readily available”?
Here’s a hint: why would it take two weeks to tell someone that information is not available, but only three working days if it is?
Chris Halsall,
You need to be patient with us slower ones. Give us a little time.
@no name et al…
My sincerest apologies…
Patients is not one of my strong points. I need to work on that…
Freedom of Information Acts are not all they are cracked up to be. A so-called progressive country such as Canada has had FOI in place for years but the government agencies make it so difficult to actually obtain information under the act that many give up in frustration. First you must pay for whatever information you are seeking and you will be given the royal run-a-round from one depeartment to another and finally you will wait months if not years. If you actually stay the course and persist, you may eventually receive heavily “blacked out” documents that reveal little or nothing.
This could be a good point PiedPiper. This could be an area to generate money from the applicant (see Part 1 Preliminary Sec 3(1).
Recently, ‘applicants’ seeking to get information on vehicle ownership is now being asked to pay a fee. Probably, this FOI could be the start of government’s system of generation new income. Something to ponder about Chris.
Amid crisis, states forced to take “drastic action” – States slashing budgets, axing jobs, halting major construction projects
With the economy on a slide and credit markets seized up, states are slashing budgets, eliminating jobs, putting major construction projects on hold and nervously waiting to see whether their shriveled pension funds recover.
They are also weighing lawsuits against Wall Street firms. And at least one state – California – may ask Washington to come to the rescue. Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger warned he may have to beg the federal government for a short term loan to cover operating costs for schools, nursing homes and police if the nation’s most populous state is made to borrow a short termUS $ 7 billion on the credit market.
Dozens of states are expecting big drop offs in revenue and dispiriting pension-fund losses, and are making another round of emergency spending cuts on on top of deep cutbacks earlier in the year, when the economy began softening and the mortgage crisis started to unfold – Preceding extracts taken from an AP updated news story from MSNBC.COM, on October 9, 2008.
Meanwhile in Barbados, the political economic recessionary conditions continue to worsen, as the Prime Minister and Minister of Finance thumbs his fingers and mopes whilst being almost clueless as to the “right” fiscal and monetary measures that are more than ever before needed to rescue and stabilize the depressing economic and financial situation of the country.
Hence, rather than the Prime Minister jetting in and out of the country so often – it would have been better if he had taken enough time out from flying about the world, to stay at home and have a critical appraisal of what so-called economic and financial measures and policies are really urgently but properly needed to help make the present recession less severe than it is. But this seems an impossible task for the Prime Minister to do, esp. given that – for him – it is so difficult in Barbados to face the spectre of almost all of one’s party’s major manifesto pledges having long time ago gone up in flames, the more and more times have got very exceedingly hard for us – the masses and middle classes of people of Barbados.
Nevertheless, it would be foolhardy – at this or any future stage – for Mr. Thompson to be simply copying- as may still be his wont – the SICK, BANAL and BANKRUPT political economic methodologies of the Arthur Era in as much as such a period had seen Mr. Arthur refusing to lay off public sector workers in 2001, and had seen him rejecting advice from some quarters to substantially slash state expenditure for most of the time of his prime ministership, nevermind that some of the consequences of those and some other failed fiscal and monetary policies were that he – as Minister of Finance – had borrowed so excessively that the government debt had to skyrocket high; had incurred such fairly sizable fiscal deficits that such meant that the private sector was shut out from much needed finance; and had so much believed in implementing counter productive supply side measures – such as lowering INTEREST RATES and REDUCING TAXATION – that in the end these policies mainly had served to increase state thefts (overall TAXATION).
So, just as those methodologies like lowering interest rates and lowering TAXATION HAD – when implemented in recent times of modest national economic growth – FAILED to help prevent the economic crisis in which we in Barbados find ourselves, so WILL the recently introduced DLP Governmental measures like slightly lowering the MINIMUM INTEREST PAYABLE ON DEPOSITS, begrudgingly PROVIDING FOR BETTER SECURITY AND FENCING AT SOME SCHOOLS and marginally REDUCING DIESEL AND GASOLENE COSTS, STARKLY FAIL – in these times of political ECONOMIC stagnation and decline – to inspire and help bring about for Barbados, firstly, the desired levels of INVESTMENT, PRODUCTION/PRODUCTIVITY and EXPORTS; secondly, the desired MAXIMUM NATIONAL COST OF LIVING AND BUSINESS LEVELS, and the desired levels of GOVERNMENT EXPENDITURE and NATIONAL SAVINGS; and, thirdly, the desired levels of EMPLOYMENT, PRIVATE SECTOR CONSUMPTION, and IMPORTS – components that are altogether necessary to make sure that the national economic situation is turned around in Barbados.
PDC
SNAKE // October 9, 2008 at 2:54 pm
He likes to bloviate and he’s actually vertiginous. He should be more laconic. I’ll be interesting to see if he’ll remain so pervicacious with his fatuous style.
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Oh, Snake!! I like it bro, but I think uv overdone it a little there, with the showing-off, don’t u!!
Lorddddddddddddddddd!!!!
The People’s Democratic Congress // October 9, 2008 at 9:11 pm
Amid crisis, states forced to take “drastic action” – States slashing Budgets, axing jobs, halting major construction projects
*********************
Hey, he learning!! There’s hope for us all yet, bros!!
The People’s Democratic Congress // October 10, 2008 at 1:40 am
Amid crisis, states forced to take “drastic action
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Just seen this!! Retract earlier compliment and give-up!!
Please lets stay focus please.
Barbadians have the opportunity to provide feedback on this important bill. As Barbadians we can bellyache and become embroiled in the negative or we can critically adjudge the FOI proposal to ensure we get the best bill possible.
We have read so many comments from people over the years talking about we need integrity and freedom of information legislation, now the time has come and we are starting to see that we may have just been hearing hot air.
It is not too late for average Barbadians to become involved.
To our friends over at BFP who are making a big deal about popular wording found in the document, this is not uncommon in documents widely use and maybe a red herring position. We respect the fact that our history on this issue does not engender a trustful relation with government but the PM’s administration has been in place for less than a year. They have assumed office at one of the most challenging times in world history, we must tread carefully on how we manage our priorities.
It is NOT just stocks that are taking a hammering, oil prices continue to plummet and have fallen to a one year low below US $ 83 barrel while currencies, especially the British Pound, have been sold heavily – Preceding extract taken from an updated AP news story – headlined World Markets tumble after huge US losses – on MSNBC.COM on October 10, 2008.
It is so clear that the world is heading for a serious and prolonged political economic financial crisis and which is going to be the near opposite equivalent in depth and scope to that sustained growth period that the world experienced during 1991 to 2008, well, except for that time in 2002, when countries had suffered significant political economic declines in the aftermath of the Sept 11 attacks.
Thus, according to the Daily Nation, Thursday, October 9, 2008, – and which reproduced the AP news story from which these ensuing comments were taken, the International Monetary Fund (IMF), in a World Economic Outlook released yesterday, slashed growth projections for the global economy and predicted the United States – the epicentre of the financial meltown – would continue to lose traction. Moreover, in this original AP news story, the IMF now projects that the global economy, which grew by a hardy five per cent last year, will lose considerable speed, slowing to 3.9 per cent this year. It is forecast to weaken even more – to just three per cent – next year, marking the worst showing since 2002. ( In the past, the IMF has called global growth of three per cent or less the equivalent to a global recession).
With such being the case, and the fact that the global food and fuel crisis has -with the aid of the sub-prime mortgage crisis – severely metamorphosed into a serious global economic and financial crisis, will mean that where Barbados is concerned that the Governor of the Central Bank of Barbados’ outlook for real output growth for the rest of the year in the range of 1.5 per cent to 2 per cent, has to be terribly revised downwards. Surely it has to be!!
Also, given that global and local political economic conditions continue to worsen dramatically daily, it must mean that if the so-called economic performance of the country in the first half of the year was estimated at 1.4 per cent – and that that stastistic was furnished at a time when things economic and financial were NOT so severe – then given that conditions have in fact really declined significantly since the Governor’s half year report in July, it must mean that real output growth for the last half of the year must be way below the 1.4 per cent figure and that the overall growth figure earlier furnished in the first quarter economic report of the Central Bank for the entire year must also be terribly revised downwards.
Finally, the fact is that Barbados is in the throes of a brutal economic crisis/ recessionary period NOT seen since 1991-2. For, as one goes through Bridgetown and other places in Barbados, one can see the evidence of the significant declines that are taking place in this country, with many retail stores, outdoor businesses, bars and restaurants, cottage industries and hair salons experiencing substantial declines in business and commercial activities.
Surely, we of the masses and middle classes must stop ELECTING DLP and BLP Governments in this country and must start electing PDC and other progressive parties into government in this country, if we wish NOT to go through these serious expansionary and contractionary business cycles!!
PDC
Juris // October 9, 2008 at 5:35 pm
David, section 6(2) means that if any other legislation prevents the disclosure of information by the Government, it is no longer in force to the extent that such provision conflicts with this Act. So if this Act says that government must release information and the other legislation says no, then this Act rules…the information must be released.
+++++++++++++++++++
I admit I have not read the act but plan to do so but for those ahead of me here is a question based on the logic of “Yes Prime Minister”.
If the FOIA takes precedence over other acts then it must take precedence over the Official Secrets Act, OSA, not to be confused with O$A.
Since this is unlikely, then FOIA probably will have a clause specifically excluding information, official secrets, covered by OSA.
It then boils down to how secrets are defined by OSA.
If secrets are defined in such a way that they cover all goverment related information which it is prudent not to let the public know and thus to be kept secret, then FOIA will be trumped by OSA.
Have not read the proposed FOI bill yet but I will . A development that can help in FOI is the after cabinet press conferences. The new GOB started them then stopped. Why?
Cabinet meetings are important every time and we the people want to know what was discussed and decided. It is us who put the ministers there and it is our business they convene on.
Thompson held an after cabinet media breifing to inform of drop in energy prices last night. Reinstate the after cabinet press conferences PM. It speaks to FOI and at the same time says to the people they are intergral to the process and GOB cares that we get timely information.
Nothing beats an informed citizenry!
@Quo vadis… you are going to be disappointed.
Section 32 (within part VI — Exempt Documents) specifically defines all documents and records of Cabinet as being exempted…
Responses to the Bill, whether electronic or hard copy, should be forwarded no later than Friday, 31st October 2008 to:
(i) freedomofinfobill@barbados.gov.bb
or
(ii) Permanent Secretary (Special Assignments)
Prime Minister’s Office Government Headquarters Bay Street St. Michael
or
(iii) Fax Number: 228-8234
The following Town Hall Meetings are also being held in order to provide additional opportunities for persons to provide feedback and inputs.
Wednesday, 15th October 2008 The Combermere School, Waterford, St. Michael
Wednesday, 22nd October 2008 The Alexandra School, Queen Street, St. Peter
Wednesday, 29th October 2008 The Deighton Griffith School, Kingsland, Christ Church
Wednesday, 5th November 2008 The Princess Margaret School, Six Roads, St. Philip
As we an see from the above there will be adequate opportunity to air your opinions at the meetings to come or by email or fax, so here is your chance to have an input into a newly drafted bill.
The only comments that will count are the ones that are made thru the official channels, please come forward and make a real contribution by attending the Town hall meetings and openly discuss the direction you want to see the draft take, the ball is in your court.
@John…
You are correct in your analysis. FOI does *not* override OSA.
@Tell me Why…
It is very common for Governments to charge a reasonable fee for paper documents. This is not a big concern. It is a simple economic limiter, preventing people from asking for so many documents that the Gov comes to a screeching halt as they do nothing but provide responses to requests.
However, one thing I am concerned about is that there is very little in this proposed Act to encourage the available documents to be made available for free on the Internet.
Having said this, there is *nothing* preventing anyone who’s paid for a document to then make it available for free over the Internet themselves. Like, say, a consumer advocacy group or a NGO…
Chris. I hope that ‘the commissioner’ of this FOI will issue numbers for ‘applicants’ instead of using bona fide names. (see page 8(e) and Part 3 (12:1) This caution of not using name will protect the applicant since the commissioner financial report must be submitted to the Minister and laid in both houses. Secondly, on Part 3 (14:10, the gender of the information officers is male.
Hearty, congratulations to BU and BFP for succeeding in persuading the Bim govt. to begin the process of enacting FOI legislation, in B’dos. It’s a notable, victory or, at least, the latest stage in one!!
*****************
Pursuant to BFP’s comments today: The government just released the draft by posting it on the internet on the 9th. I haven’t seen anything in the papers – and the promised copies to be placed in the post office weren’t there today and probably won’t be tomorrow. There was no press release.
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It would seem that the DLP are still learning the correct, procedures of government and hopefully, will ensure that this kind of oversight, does n’t occur, again!!
******************
but nope, the government intends to have all public input wrapped up in three weeks.
***************
Another point of remiss, by the govt!! “Come on Thompson!! B’dos expects better”!!
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Please join in the discussion. Our children are depending upon us.
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A note of caution!! Few, people will possess the knowledge and expertise to criticise this document with the real, degree of scrutiny which it merits, consequently, Barbadians both at home and abroad are even more dependent upon the likes of such wise heads as the folks at both BU and BFP to give this Bill the truthful and serious scrutiny which it deserves!!
May the lord’s good counsels, guide you both!!
@Tell me Why…
An *excellent* suggestion with regards to “request numbers”.
With regards to gender references in the language, yes, I caught that, and others. And while legal precedent says that “he” == “she”, I always prefer to see the language be gender neutral.
This is to be included in my response document, under a section entitled “The Pedantic”. (Seriously…)
The time seems ripe for journalists to take full advantage of what the blogs have to offer in getting this Act right.