Parts of the Freedom of Information Act that would allow for its implementation are expected to come into force this week, said Minister of Education Jerome Fitzgerald yesterday.
"I have signed off on a paper to enact certain parts of the Freedom of Information Act," said Fitzgerald outside the Office of the Prime Minister.
"I think that comes into force this week, if my memory serves me right.
"And that would provide us and allow us the opportunity to appoint the information commissioner who will be responsible for the implementation of the Freedom of Information Act, which is really the first and most critical part.
"I am now discussing with the prime minister a Cabinet paper for the appointment of that person.
"That has to be done in consultation with the leader of the opposition, who is Loretta Butler-Turner, and we are hopeful that, that will be done over the next week or so, so that we can have that person appointed.
"But as I said, certain parts of the legislation which would allow for implementation will come into force this week."
The FOIA was passed in Parliament on February 9 and has since been passed in the Senate.
There have been widespread calls for the government to enact a FOIA to allow the public access to government information and ensure the government is accountable and transparent.
The FOIA was one of the central issues raised by participants of the Black Friday march, which saw hundreds of residents occupy downtown Nassau for over 10 hours.
The act was passed in both chambers of Parliament in 2012, under the Ingraham administration, but it was never enacted.
A coalition of 22 civil society private industry groups yesterday questioned the government's commitment to freedom of information and urged voters to demand the enactment of the act.
"Unbelievably, yet another election season has come with no enacted or enforced Freedom of Information Act," the coalition said in a press statement.
"We, as a coalition of civil society and private industry groups working toward a true, fair Freedom of Information Act, and representing over 100,000 people, are gravely disappointed that the government has again neglected to enact the FOIA.
"We see this not only as a lack of political will, but also as a lack of commitment to the people's fundamental right to know on the part of successive administrations and urge the next government to make the enactment of the FOIA a priority.
"...As the current government has had five years to draft, consult, pass and enact a viable FOIA, the prospect of a currently un-enacted FOIA until the next government takes power, signifies insincerity and a failure of leadership on their part.
"Given this, any current campaign claims of support for transparency and accountability ring hollow."
The group called on voters to join the call for the enactment of the FOIA and demand candidates seeking their vote, commit to the enactment and enforcement of it.
The general election has been called for May 10.

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