Gov't moving to appoint new Access to Information tribunal

 

Information Minister Dr. Dana Morris Dixon says the government is preparing to appoint a new Access to Information tribunal.

 

Last week The Gleaner reported that the tribunal created under the ATI Act to handle appeals when Jamaicans are denied information by government agencies or public bodies has been inactive since February.

 

As a result, there are nearly 20 appeals now in limbo without a panel to hear them.

 

But speaking at Wednesday's post-Cabinet press briefing, Dr. Morris Dixon shared that the government has settled on a list of possible people to sit on the tribunal and is awaiting input from the Leader of the Opposition to advance the process. 

 

"As with many of our tribunals, you have to have the support of both the Prime Minister and the Leader of the Opposition. So where we are now, the list that has been proposed has been sent to the Leader of the Opposition for his comments. Once we hear back from him, then we can move it forward. We are in the process of having the ATI tribunal in place," she said. 

 

Dr. Morris Dixon further underscored the importance of the tribunal, which among other things, was established to reinforce and manage the public's general right of access to official documents held by public authorities, subject to exemptions. 

 

"There are some caveats. Obviously, there are some sensitive security information or other information that cannot be shared and sometimes an entity, a government entity may respond in that way. But it doesn't end there. So, even if an entity says 'No, because of this provision, you cannot get the information', the law says that there can be a tribunal that you can appeal to. And so, this is actually a part of the government saying, you know, we're open for you to ask any question," she insisted, adding that this is not just for use by the media but also ordinary Jamaicans requesting information.