International Press Institute Executive Director Alison Bethel McKenzie today called on Prime Minister Perry Christie to move immediately to grant Bahamians access to information that directly impacts their democratic rights. Ms Bethel charged that any necessary amendments must be guided by public consultation to establish an effective framework for the stagnant Freedom of Information Act.
Her comments came during her keynote address at the opening of UNESCO's media workshop series in Kingston, Jamaica, commemorating World Press Freedom Day in the Caribbean. The theme of the conference is "Reaching New Goals: Free Media Fortifies the post-2015 Development Agenda".
Comments
asiseeit 10 years ago
This will never happen in the Bahamas simply because the political class has too much to lose if we (the Bahamian people) where to know exactly what they were doing and where the money was really going.
BahamianAway 10 years ago
They do it in other Caribbean countries....
This should be a clear indication that the government is no good...if there were then they would not be afraid of transparency. But clearly they want to keep Bahamians in the dark...
SP 10 years ago
Bermudians had the exact same political circumstances of the Bahamas before finally putting their heads together and forming a 3rd political party.
One Bermuda Alliance won the government December 2012 and with-in 45 days passed a Freedom of Information act which immediately highlighted gross corruption with-in both former parties.
http://www.oba.bm/">http://www.oba.bm/
Allison Gibson's recent lame excuses for delaying a Freedom of Information Act in the Bahamas was an insult to our intelligence.
If the PLP & FNM had nothing to hide they would have no fear a Freedom of Information Act.
Obviously both parties continually build extra closet space to hide skeletons.
Time is longer than rope and the PLP & FNM ran out of rope a long time ago!
SP 10 years ago
This is just the tip of the iceberg
International pressure for retroactive Freedom Of Information in Bahamas is imminent
Time's up
PLP & FNM are out of rope
http://www.freedominfo.org/">http://www.freedominfo.org/
ThisIsOurs 10 years ago
About time someone external tells the PM how bad the situation is in his own country.
TheMadHatter 10 years ago
Ya'll pressin the Govt for information? Ya mussie wanna get rough up like da FNM Chairman, eh?
TheMadHatter
flash369 10 years ago
Freedom of Information The fuel that drives this engine is information and therefore access to information is critical. Freedom of information laws, which permit access to public information are essential, but so are the means by which information is made available, be it through ICTs or the simple sharing of documents. Information can change the way we see the world around us, our place in it, and how to adjust our lives in order to maximize the benefits available through our local resources. Fact driven decision-making can significantly alter our political, social and economic perspectives. Therefore, open and pluralistic media are, perhaps, most precious when they simply provide the mirror for society to see itself. These moments of reflection are instrumental in defining community objectives, making course corrections when society or its leaders have lost touch with each other or gone astray..
The right to access information can be interpreted within the legal frameworks that support freedom of information as it applies to information held by public bodies, or in a wider sense to encompass both access and circulation of information held by other actors, where it becomes intrinsically linked to freedom of expression. .
Freedom of information and the transparency it promotes, has a direct consequence on fighting corruption, which in turn has a tangible impact on development. Former World Bank president James Wolfensohn often identified government corruption as the primary hindrance to development and an independent media sector as the number one tool to fight public corruption. Press Freedom and Governance Ensuring freedom for the media around the world is a priority. Independent, free and pluralistic media are central to good governance in democracies that are young and old. Free media: can ensure transparency, accountability and the rule of law; promote participation in public and political discourse, and contribute to the fight against poverty. An independent media sector draws its power from the community it serves and in return empowers that community to be full a partner in the democratic process. Freedom of information and freedom of expression are the founding principles for open and informed debate. New technology will continue to evolve and allow citizens to further shape their media environments as well as access a plurality of sources. The combination of access to information and citizen participation in media can only contribute to an increased sense of ownership and empowerment.. .
Alltoomuch 10 years ago
Did no-one want Freedom of Information before the FNM came to power in 1992?
Bahamianpride 10 years ago
Open it up, Pass the Act into Law... Let the people make informed decisions based on data not political theatrics & promises.
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