PM – We have to put structures in place before the Freedom of Information Act can be operational

There is still no definite date as to when the Freedom of Information (FOI) Act, which was passed into law in 2003, will be operationalized.{{more}}

“Basically we have to set up a structure, which we have not done yet,” Dr Ralph Gonsalves, Prime Minister said.

Gonsalves, speaking during a press conference on Tuesday, May 15, said that there were two laws which had been passed simultaneously, the FOI and the Privacy Act and that they needed to be operationalized together.

He said although the FOI Act allows for information to be passed on, there were certain limitations to the Act which related to privacy, particularly issues relating to national security, Gonsalves explained.

The issue was raised in the May 8 editorial of the SEARCHLIGHT.

But while he said that the issue raised in the editorial, which was a call for the government to operationalize the FOI Act, was reasonable, Gonsalves reminded those present at the media briefing that this country was ranked high in the world by two internationally recognized entities with regard to press freedom.

He also said that the government was sensitive to the issue of press freedom.

“We don’t hold malice against anybody,” Gonsalves said.

So, then how could there be a Freedom of Information Act which had been passed and the prime minister files law suits against individuals, the prime minister asked. Answering his own question, Gonsalves maintained that the successful law suits that he has brought against individuals do not affect the overall freedom of the press, but that there were certain things that one can and cannot do.

“You can’t say on the radio that I thief (stole) money, that I misbehave in public office when it ain’t happen. That is abuse and I win you every time I go to the court. “So, despite what the NDP (New Democratic Party) says, despite what the critics of the government say, the international observers, regional observers who are unbiased and local ones who are unbiased, they know we have a thriving freedom of the press here,” Gonsalves said. (DD)