Access to Info Bill step in right direction – Bar Association

BY JANELLE PERSAUD

Guyana Bar Association President Timothy Jonas has proposed that a database giving easier access to information be established to complement the recently-tabled Access to Information Bill. Jonas’s comments came days before the National Assembly closed submissions on the bill, which is currently before a special select committee. According to the attorney, the bill seems to be a step in the right direction.

“That being said, I am in some doubt as to the immediate efficacy of the act. I wonder if it might not be a piece of ‘feel good’ legislation.

There doesn’t seem to be any teeth in the act,” Jonas opined.

President Bharrat Jagdeo

He believes it may be more helpful to citizens if there were a structured search engine utilizing the Internet. “If you are just up in the air writing a letter asking for information on a specific event, there may or may not be a document referring to that. So, by creating a database, you help the public by giving them index reference or a cross reference to get information; otherwise they are just groping in the dark,” he explained.

Each agency could have its own database, or one central system could be created, which Jonas is convinced will remove the red tape and bureaucracy and the expense and time used to apply for information. He explained that if the information is not found through the database, then persons should make the specific applications.

The Access to Information Bill was tabled in the National Assembly on June 16 last and “provides for setting out a practical regime of rights to information for persons to secure access to information under the control of public authorities, in order to promote transparency and accountability in the working of the government and public authorities, and for the appointment of the commissioner of information.” But while the highly anticipated piece of legislation provides the right of all Guyanese and persons domiciled in Guyana access to an official document, there are exceptions. The exempted documents include Cabinet documents, those likely to prejudice the defence of the state, and documents relative to international relations, trade secrets, economy, commercial affairs, legal profession, privilege, and documents to which secrecy provisions apply. “… after a period of twenty years since the last day of the year in which a Cabinet or an internal working document came into existence, it shall cease to be an exempted document.” However, in the instances of persons applying for information contained in exempted documents, the commissioner of information could advise the applicant to revise the application or the information could still be given with the exempted matter deleted.

President Bharrat Jagdeo’s promised piece of legislation was sent to a special select committee, where it is expected to undergo scrutiny and amendments before being passed in the National Assembly.