The Tribune

By KHRISNA VIRGIL

Tribune Staff Reporter

kvirgil@tribunemedia.net

PERSONS found guilty of leaking highly sensitive information could face up to $100,000 in penalties, according to Data Protection Commissioner George Rodgers.

If authorities are able to establish who were responsible for leaking privileged information, as is the case at NIB, the court could set in motion a probe against the perpetrators.

Mr Rodgers and his team have for years been engaged in initiatives to educate the public on their rights regarding the Data Protection Act of 2003. Those efforts fall under Prime Minister Perry Christie and the Ministry of Finance.

The Act was established to safeguard the privacy rights of individuals regarding the processing of personal information. A great responsibility is also placed on persons who process personal information and confer rights upon the individuals who are deemed to be the subject, the Act said.

By law anyone who believes their personal information was leaked has the right to file a complaint with Mr Rodgers. He would then conduct a probe.

With the most recent leak of information regarding the bonuses and salaries of eight of nine executives at NIB, questions have been raised as to the consequences, if any, to be suffered by anyone found guilty of such a leak. However, Mr Rodgers would not discuss the subject.

The Tribune understands, however, that the Royal Bahamas Police Force would be called in to investigate if it is believed there has been a breach.

Serfent Rolle, an associate of the Seymour and Company law firm, warned that the constant leaks of privileged information could leave a dent in the Bahamas’ reputation. He said in the case of released sensitive NIB documents, a lack of knowledge of the Act could be to blame.

“I believe,” said Mr Rolle, who has a Masters of Law in Information Communications Technology from Oslo University, “that people don’t know what their rights are with this Act, but if this continues, there must be an understanding that this is very unprofessional.

“We have to be careful of what we put in the international realm. We are a country that is thriving on Tourism, Trade and Industry and in financial services.”

He says there should be widespread training in the public sector of the Act’s ramifications.