Access to Information Tribunal’s New Members Being Finalised

The Government is in the process of finalising new members for the Access to Information (ATI) Tribunal.

Addressing Wednesday’s (September 18) post-Cabinet press briefing at business processing outsourcing firm iTel’s corporate office in St. Andrew, Minister without Portfolio in the Office of the Prime Minister, with Responsibility for Information, Skills and Digital Transformation, Senator Dr. the Hon. Dana Morris Dixon, said the list with the proposed members has been sent to the Leader of the Opposition for his feedback.

“The ATI [Tribunal’s] term had ended and you have to find out if the old members of the tribunal want to remain on it, and also look at whether or not you want to refresh it,” she informed.
Senator Morris Dixon said this process is ongoing, adding that “we have decided on the names of some individuals”.

“But as with many of our tribunals, you have to have the support of both the Prime Minister and Leader of the Opposition. So where we are now [is] the list that has been proposed has been sent to the Leader of the Opposition for his comments. So once we hear back from him, we can move it forward. So we are in the process of having the ATI [Tribunal’s new members] in place,” Senator Morris Dixon informed.

She reiterated the Tribunal’s importance, noting that it is a critical supporting component of the Access to Information Act.

“For Jamaicans who don’t understand what it is, we have this legislation which is the Access to Information Act. So, if anyone wants information on something government-related, they can use that provision to ask for it or they can just come here to [the post-Cabinet briefing] to ask, and if I can answer, I will,” the Minister outlined.

She further informed that there is a provision and process facilitating requests for information from a government entity.

“There are some caveats though. Obviously there are some sensitive security or other information that cannot be shared, and sometimes 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 to which you can appeal. So, this is a part of the Government saying, ‘we are open for you to ask any question’, and it is not just for the media; it’s for any Jamaican,” she said.

Minister Morris Dixon reiterated the Government’s commitment to providing information to the people of Jamaica.

“It is important that we have the access to information framework in place. It is something that we have had many discussions over many years about whether or not we want to change it and amend It, and it is something I am looking at. But it is important… it is important that people have access to the information of the work of the Government. Nothing that we do is private; it is all open to scrutiny,” Senator Morris Dixon underscored.

The Access to Information Act was passed in 2002. Its implementation and administration are led by the Access to Information Unit.

The Unit is also responsible for educating the public of their rights and obligations under the legislation.