IN RESPONSE to the Government’s recent announcement that a final version of the long-anticipated Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) 2015 will soon be tabled in Parliament, 17 groups representing diverse interests have come together to demand what they are calling, a “true” FOIA.

The civil society and private industry organisations are participating in a broad-based campaign aimed at ensuring the Government includes commonly agreed recommendations proposed by the groups to strengthen the Act. They say that they are mobilising to engage and educate the public about the importance of the legislation and its timely passage.

“We believe the coming together of these 17 organisations and associations representing tens of thousands from business interests to the Fourth Estate, environmental protection advocates to nationwide Facebook groups is historic,” said Matt Aubry, executive director of the Organization for Responsible Governance (ORG), said. “Passage and enactment of a strong and fair Freedom of Information Act will benefit citizens and residents, private businesses, civil society organisations, industry associations, media outlets, unions and, ultimately, government.”

The groups involved in pressuring government to pass strong and fair transparency legislation include Citizens for a Better Bahamas, We The People, ORG, The Bahamas Chamber of Commerce and Employer’s Confederation, The Abaco Chamber of Commerce, Save The Bays, The Nassau Institute, reEarth, The Bahamas Federation of Retailers, Civil Society Bahamas, The HeadKnowles Foundation, Waterkeepers Bahamas, It’s Our Turn, Grand Bahama Human Rights Association, Our Carmichael, The Bahamas Press Club and Young Marine Explorers.

The coming together of the groups is unprecedented, said Joseph Darville, Save The Bays chairman.

“Freedom of information is a basic right of citizens and a basic tenet of any democracy,” said Mr Darville.

“The Bahamas remains one of the last few countries not to have a Freedom of Information Act and now that we are about to enact the legislation, we are all united in wanting to get it right, to make sure it has the teeth it needs and is not riddled with loopholes that could allow it to be used as a political tool.”

Last week, the groups launched a joint public education campaign featuring an online petition to endorse passage of the bill with suggested recommendations from the groups. They say they will expand the effort in the coming weeks to include radio, television as well as print and social media.

The groups are also asking the public to reach out to MPs.

“Each of our organisations share a hope that a “true” FOIA is tabled, passed and enacted in the coming year and is not further delayed,” Lemarque Campbell, chairman of Citizens for a Better Bahamas, said. “We are asking Bahamians to push their representatives in Parliament to adopt the recommendations and pass the Bill.”

The group formed in reaction to Minister of Education Science and Technology Jerome Fitzgerald’s recent announcement that he had received a final report from the Government’s appointed FOIA Committee and Cabinet would be reviewing it to determine the final version of the Bill that would be tabled in Parliament.

Although Mr Fitzgerald, who has carriage of the legislation, said the Bill is expected to be tabled before Parliament, there has been no information as to which recommendations have been included in the report or what basis Cabinet would use for review. A letter was sent to Mr Fitzgerald by the group requesting a meeting to discuss the Bill, its contents and its tabling. The group has not received a response.

In addition to requesting a meeting with Mr Fitzgerald to discuss the bill, its contents and its tabling, the civil society and public industry groups are forming small teams to meet with the Prime Minister, the Leader of the Opposition and select Members of Parliament to review the recommendations and prepare them for the tabling of the Bill.

According to Lana Lee Brogdon, of ORG: “This is a matter of great importance to the Bahamas and it will take the energy, input and co-operation of all those who live and care about this country to bring it to fruition.” Gina Knowles, Co-founder of HeadKnowles Foundation, added: “We all have a stake in this effort and everyone is encouraged to join us and lend your voice and sign the petition.”

For more information on the Freedom of Information Act petition go to www.campaign242.org/foia_bahamas.

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