The Tribune

By NICO SCAVELLA

Tribune Staff Reporter

nscavella@tribunemedia.net

THE highly anticipated Freedom of Information Bill will “probably” be tabled in the House of Assembly by November of this year, Education Minister Jerome Fitzgerald said yesterday.

Mr Fitzgerald, the minister with responsibility for the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA), said the Christie administration would seek to table the document “once the House reconvenes after the summer break”, which he said would likely take place between October and November.

Mr Fitzgerald made the announcement during a press conference to announce the launch of public consultation for the bill. He said there will be a series of town hall meetings on the matter, the first of which will be held on April 18 at the Harry C Moore Library at The College of The Bahamas.

Additional town hall meetings are also scheduled to take place in Grand Bahama, Eleuthera, Exuma and Abaco on April 25, May 2, May 4 and May 12, respectively.

Following the public consultation phase, which ends on May 12, Mr Fitzgerald said the Freedom of Information Bill Draft Committee will consult Cabinet to say whether or not there are any recommended changes to the bill. Once that is done, Mr Fitzgerald said Cabinet will “either accept or ask them to go back and look at the changes and then decide when it should be tabled”.

“There is no question that this bill is a step in the right direction and will strengthen our democracy,” Mr Fitzgerald said. “This bill requires that due diligence is given to ensure that the new and progressive legislation is properly instituted from the onset.

“Our aim is to have a very systematic implementation plan and in order for that to happen, we must have certain things in place. While we know that there will be a learning curve, we aim to minimise any potential missteps as this bill is of utmost importance and had far-reaching implications.”

Mr Fitzgerald also invited persons who cannot make it to the public meetings to make suggestions on the Ministry of Education’s website or submit a letter directly to the chairman of the draft committee, Shane Miller, at the Office of the Attorney General.

Mr Fitzgerald also said that a fact sheet about the bill has been prepared and can be viewed on the Ministry of Education’s website, as well as on its Facebook page.

“We want the public to know that this proposed legislation will usher in a paradigm shift in our country and this government is determined to bring this Act into effect in the shortest time possible after consultation with the public.”

A FOIA was passed in early 2012 by the former Ingraham administration months before the last general election. However, there was no date for enactment.

When the Progressive Liberal Party assumed office that year, it said the legislation needed significant tweaking before it could be enforced.

Last year, the government released a revamped draft version of the legislation.

Mr Fitzgerald has previously said the implementation of the FOIA will cost about $2m.