Government of jamaica the access to information act 2002. She said her ministry was working closely with the justice ministry, as the revocation of the officials secrets act would also facilitate the passage of the whistleblowers legislation. Bruce golding, said he wants to see the official secrets act removed from the law books in another 18 months, noting that such legislation has no place in an independent country. This, in recognition of the importance of providing a framework for the standardised management of information assets in the public. To the access to information act the access to information act was passed in june, 2002. The ministry of national security creating a safer jamaica. Amendments coming for access to information act rjr news. The access to information act ensures members of the public has access to official documents relating to government business. Act 2002 jamaica laura neuman, in access to information. This act may be cited as the access to information act, 2002, and shall come into operation on a day to be appointed by the minister by notice published in the gazette. The access to information act 2002 gives the public a general right of access to official government information which would otherwise be inaccessible. This will enable jamaica to develop information based mental health plans with clear baseline information and targets. It will give citizens and other persons a general legal right of access to official government documents which would otherwise be inaccessible.
The access to information act, 2002 ministry of finance. Invitations to potential, qualified and interested suppliers of specific goods or services to bid for large projects based on delivery terms. It gives citizens and other persons a general legal right of access to official government documents which would otherwise be. Prepared by the access to information unit, office of the prime minister compliance department page 1.
Freedom of information laws allow access by the general public to data held by national governments. They establish a righttoknow legal process by which requests may be made for governmentheld information, to be. Without that information, mr coke alleges, the preparation and. The act grants public access to a raft of government documents, including some from cabinet, which were previously listed as classified. Government ministries, agencies and departments, statutory bodies, parish councils, whollyowned government companies or those in which the government has more than 50% shares and publiclyfunded educational institutions. The access to information ati act gives you the legal right to see official documents held by government bodies.
The access to information act, 2002 application form for amendmentannotation of personal record. In june 2002, the government of jamaica passed the access to information ati act, after several rounds of discussion and consultation with members of. Jamaica, and by the authority of the same, as follows. Falconer made her comments to the gleaner, at the same time dismissing opposition assertions that the government was reluctant to propose ati amendments.
An act to provide members of the public with a general right of access to official documents and for connected matters. The criminalization of homosexuality in jamaica dates back to the 1864 offences against the person act, which calls for a punishment of up to 10 years of imprisonment with hard labor for those convicted of the abominable crime of buggery. You may also ask for personal information to be changed if it is incomplete, misleading, out of date or incorrect. In an effort to build the capacity of public sector officers to respond to requests for information made pursuant to the access to information act 2002, the access to information unit in the office of the prime minister recently trained some 33 ati responsible officers from government ministries, departments and agencies. Thailand passed its official information act in 1997, and similar laws have been passed in japan and south korea. Pm wants official secrets acts removed prime minister, the hon. Jamaica case study, a draft paper prepared for the conference on access to information in the americas, a project of the interamerican dialogue stated that in jamaica, such number 112, august 2004.
In general, jamaicas access to information law meets the emerging. Among other things, the act provides temporary relief to private contracting parties who find themselves unable to fulfil their contractual obligations due to the disruption caused by the ongoing pandemic. You should use the above right to information act application form for submitting request for information before concerned state public authority. The world bank policy on access to information, launched on july 1, 2010 is a landmark disclosure policy adopted by the world bank. By july 2005, all government ministries and agencies were brought under the act and were expected to comply with the provisions of the act. This act may be cited as the access to information amendment act, 2003. Chairperson of the access to information advisory stakeholders committee, dr. Information act draft in 2009, the government drafted and circulated for comments a freedom of information act guyana access to information bill 2011 passed on 15th sept 201112 read more jamaica access to information act, 2002 the foi act was passed in june 2002 and became the access to information unit has been. The access to information act government of jamaica. Particulars of person requesting access to the record a the particulars of the person who requests access to the record must be given below. A bill, to amend the access to information act, is expected to be tabled in parliament before the end of the 201415 legislative year. Information and knowledge is publicly available also through numerous related world bank initiatives such as open data.
Ati frequently asked questions, jamaica pdf the carter center. An act to amend the access to information act 12th day of december, 2003 be it enacted by the queens most excellent majesty, by and with the advice and consent of the senate and house of representatives of jamaica, and by the authority of the same, as follows. The goal of collecting this information is to improve the mental health system and to provide a baseline for monitoring the change. Most western european countries, as well as longerestablished democracies such as the united states, sweden, canada and australia, all have access to information laws. The access to information act was passed in june, 2002. Minister colin campbell in jamaica access to information act 2002. Applications under the access to information act1 3. Access to information act ministry of justice government of jamaica. This was because the government recognized that the effectiveness of the legislation depended on the availability and accessibility of records. The access to information act 2002 was enacted by the jamaican government to give the public access to information held by government and to promote. Ati access to information ministry of education youth. Government of jamaica procurement sets out guidelines for the policy procurement of goods and services.
Carolyn gomes left, listens attentively to a point from director of the access to information unit, damion cox, at a recent think tank at the jamaica information services jis head office in kingston. The objects of this act are to reinforce and give furt her effect to certain fundamental principles underlying the system of constitutional democracy, namely. The access to information act ministry of industry. Jamaica information service, parish profiles, overview of jamaica, undated, url 7 cia world factbook, jamaica geography, updated 7. Access to information act officers or employees of the atomic energy control board designation order sor86360 access to information regulations sor83507 designating the minister of justice and the president of the treasury board as ministers for purposes of certain sections of the act si83108. Kingston, jamaica following its recent focus on the access to information ati act for world press freedom day, the press association of jamaica. Jamaica s minister with responsibility for information, sandrea falconer, has said that a new access to information act will be tabled and passed in the current financial year.
The government of jamaica records and information management policy the policy was approved by the cabinet of jamaica on july 9, 2018. Access to information office of the prime minister. Legal profession act the legal profession accounts and records regulations, 1999 in exercise of the powers conferred on the general legal council by sections 12 7 and 35 of the legal profession act and of every other power hereunto enabling the following regulations are hereby made. Government of jamaica the access to information act 2002 monthly report form atimr1 1.
Members of the jamaican lgbt community are denied access to basic rights and services, resulting in. In passing and implementing the access to information act 2002, jamaica has established a new and more open form of governance and accomplished what many other countries are still attempting. The access to information act ati act gives you the legal right to see official documents. Access to information act 2002 in jamaica march 2006 the carter center jamaica is a leader in the region on transparency and access to information. In the caribbean, jamaica was the third caricom country to enact such legislation after trinidad and belize. Few of the above state public authorities may reject your application if you dont submit your application in the prescribed right to information act application form. Whoaims was used to collect information on the mental health system in jamaica. Paulwell says the delay in submitting the bill is due primarily to assistance jamaica is receiving in further. For the purposes of this act personal data means any information relating to an identified or identifiable natural person, hereinafter the data subject. The emergence of freedom of information legislation was a response to increasing dissatisfaction with the secrecy surrounding government policy development and decision making. Human resource management information systems hrmis. The access to information act gives a general right of access to official documents held by government organizations.
Implementing the actmentions a number of the advances in jamaica in encouraging. Guest column by jamaicans for justice in the jamaica observer sunday, october 22, 2006 jamaica passed an access to information act atia in 2002 and began implementing the provisions of the act in 2004. Primary support to the access to information officer ms. The access to information act arrangement of sections shon titlc. Repeal the official secrets act, paj urges jamaica observer. Secondary support to the access to information officer ms. By recognising and upholding this right, the act aims to reinforce fundamental democratic principles vital to. It gives citizens and other persons a general legal right of access to official government documents which would otherwise be inaccessible. Announcements concerning programmes, projects, activities and initiatives. The access to information act 2002 jamaica an early update. Guidelines on the discharge of functions operating procedures for the public authorities under the access to administration of the access to information j amaica act 2002 information act. This act may be cited as the access to information act. The access to information act, 2002 arrangement of section act 24 of 2003 1.