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Browne Insists Law Is Functioning Despite Delays in Physical Secretariat
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Prime Minister Gaston Browne says the Freedom of Information (FOI) Secretariat should be operational within 60 days, following concerns raised in Parliament about the lack of public access to the Information Commissioner’s office.
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Responding to a question during Thursday’s sitting, Browne told the House that the Attorney General had advised him that the physical premises for the FOI Secretariat are still being prepared but should be ready soon.
“All right, I’m told by the distinguished Attorney General that within the next 60 days, they should have a physical premise from which to operate,” Browne said.
He added that the Freedom of Information system remains functional despite the absence of an office, noting that the Information Commissioner has been handling requests.
“You and others have written to the Information Commissioner and would have gotten information,” Browne said.
“Even though the Secretariat… have not finalized the repairs to the space, they are still functional.”
The Prime Minister’s comments came after an opposition MP pressed him on repeated delays, noting that in May the government had promised the office would open within a month.
“Five months ago, on May 15, you gave a one-month timeline for the opening of the secretariat,” the MP said.
“I’m now hearing 60 days. Can the public trust your word in the stated revised timeline? I’m tired of these timelines.”
Browne replied that he was simply relaying the information provided by the Attorney General.
“Another several weeks, no more than 60 days is required,” he said. “I communicate information that is given to me. I’m not a contractor.”
The discussion broadened to include the Integrity in Public Life Act and the Prevention of Corruption Act, with Browne asserting that all three laws are in force and being implemented.
He said a secretary has been appointed to the Integrity Commission to help ensure that public officials file their required declarations, and emphasized that there is no deliberate policy to prevent these governance laws from functioning.
“Information has been given under the Freedom of Information Act,” Browne said. “The laws are functional—it’s just that they have not been utilized.”
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Let’s see if this Freedom Of Information is just window dressing or not. After the 60 days of this implementation of FOI, hopefully, the last request by the Honourable Richard Lewis on government building transparency will be addressed in the first instance.
Then, and only then will I believe that this isn’t any sort of window dressing by this ABLP government.
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