By RICARDO WELLS
Tribune Staff Reporter
rwells@tribunemedia.net
THE Bahamas Press Club yesterday stressed the importance and “urgency” of implementing a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA).
The group’s comments came days after Education Minister Jerome Fitzgerald told The Tribune there was no firm date for amended Freedom of Information legislation to be discussed in Cabinet before bringing it to the House of Assembly.
Club officials commended government’s efforts to present a revised bill to parliament, but the group added: “We impress upon the government the urgency of passing such a bill into law.”
The previous administration passed a Freedom of Information Act in February 2012, but it was never enacted. According to Mr Fitzgerald, that legislation requires close to 100 amendments and so a committee was formed in 2014 to recommend changes or to produce a new bill.
In the statement, the group stressed the importance of removing all barriers preventing a FOIA from being enacted into law, suggesting that it would create a more transparent democracy.
“We simply say to the government and to the committee, the time has long passed for an act to allow the public access to information, and it may be prudent to create a new Act sooner rather than later, in order to further the growth of a healthy democracy.”
On Tuesday, Mr Fitzgerald, the minister responsible for the legislation, said that there was “no date in mind” for a revised version of the legislation to be presented to Cabinet.
He indicated that the original legislation has been reviewed and reworked by media professionals and government officials.
Last September, Mr Fitzgerald said a revised version of the FOIA would not be presented to Parliament before Spring 2016.
That announcement was criticised by prominent lawyer and FOIA advocate Fred Smith, QC, who has said 2016 “is far too long for the public to wait for transparency and accountability in government.”
Club officials said they are eagerly awaiting any further updates on the progress of efforts to present a Freedom of Information Bill to Parliament.
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