The proposed delay of a long-sought Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) until 2016 is a "damn shame", according to a chamber of commerce official, who argued that the legislation should be a top priority for government.
Bahamas Chamber of Commerce and Employers Confederation (BCCEC) Chairman Robert Myers claimed he is "very disappointed" that the legislation is slated for spring 2016, claiming that the FOIA is of far greater importance to the country than several high-profile government projects.
"It's a damn shame that they're not prioritizing it and don't seem to be willing to spend the time on it...knowing that the public is looking for this to happen. It's about doing what's right; more emphasis should be put on it," claimed Myers.
He further criticized the government for prioritizing expensive investment projects over the FOIA, including the delayed Bahamas Agricultural and Marine Science Institute (BAMSI).
"They seem to find the budget and provisions for things that they want to get done. When they want to do BAMSI or build a race track, they somehow figure it out," said Myers.
The BCCEC has been pushing for the implementation of a FOIA, calling it paramount to effecting proper fiscal reform by allowing for greater accountability in government spending.
Minster of Education Jerome Fitzgerald, who is responsible for overseeing the legislation, claimed last week that the FOIA would not be presented to Parliament until 2016 at the earliest.
Myers discounted Fitzgerald's claim that the draft FOIA contained over 100 provisions in need of amendments as politically motivated "delay tactics", claiming that the BCCEC had substantially fewer issues with the earlier legislation.
"There are maybe 10 items that needed cleaning up...There's enough in there that's of substance and useful that they don't need to scrap it.
"It's not something new. This should've been addressed in this year's budget debate [yet] they don't seem to be making it a priority," stated Myers.
However, he agreed with Fitzgerald that proper administration and substantial revamps to government ministries are vital as the act moved forward.
"[Fitzgerald] is absolutely right with regards to the administration... People need to be trained," said Myers, noting that the ministry would benefit from the reallocation of existing staff as opposed to hiring and training more civil servants.
"There are already too many people in the civil service. There are plenty of people in the ministry to deal with this [act]."
The Free National Movement tabled the FOIA in late 2011 and passed a revised version of the legislation in the Senate in February 2012. However, an enforcement date was never set, and the Progressive Liberal Party subsequently claimed that the legislation needed further amendments.
"It needs to get done, but to start the process in 2016... It's a shambles," said Myers.

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