Jamaica foi act 2002 strong support from broad coalition incl. The jamaica access to information act is unique in providing for an automatic parliamentary. In these regulations inlerpretshon applicant means a person who applies for access to an official docnment. Shakeira dunkley, legal officer secondary support to the access to information officer ms.
Carolyn gomes left, listens attentively to a point from director of the access to information unit, damion cox, at a recent think tank at the jamaica information services jis head office in kingston. Include, for example, manuals andor other documents containing interpretations, rules. Access to information jamaica seventh meeting article lbeffective access to information the ocg is currently unaware of an ict platform in the captioned regard. The act was designed, developed and is currently administered by the ministry of justices management information. In order to access a particular family court record, the requesting party must make an.
The access to information ati act gives you the legal right to see official documents held by government bodies. The fact that mr coke is facing prosecution outside of jamaica should not, by itself, prevent him being allowed access to information which may assist his defence. Access to information office of the prime minister. Consequently, the report also explores the possibility of incorporating valueadded information into the discussions on education in jamaica and considers the feasibility and relevance of conducting a valueadded assessment as part of an education report card in jamaica. Loi sur lacces a linformation the act is a canadian act providing the right of access to information under the control of a federal government institution. Full grant of access state form of access given partial grant of access state. A bill, to amend the access to information act, is expected to be tabled in parliament before the end of the 201415 legislative year. The public health act tobacco control regulations 20 took effect in july 20and saw the implementation of smokefree legislation and graphic health warnings for tobacco. Primary support to the access to information officer ms. Agencies may withhold information according to nine exemptions contained in the statute. This act applies to the processing of personal data wholly or partly by automatic means, and to the processing otherwise than by automatic means of personal data which forms part of a filing system or is intended to form part of a filing system. Observations of the access to information act 2002 in jamaica march 2006 the carter center jamaica is a leader in the region on transparency and access to information. In passing and implementing the access to information act 2002, jamaica has established a new and more open form of governance and accomplished what many other countries are still. By recognising and upholding this right, the act aims to reinforce fundamental democratic principles vital to.
This act may be cited as the access to information act. In an effort to improve governmental accountability, transparency and public participation in national decisionmaking and in keeping with global trends the government of jamaica passed the access to information act in june 2002. Access to information act ministry of justice government of jamaica. In june 2002, the government of jamaica passed the access to information ati act, after several rounds of discussion and consultation with members of various stakeholder groups.
Oversees seven regional adult education network raen centers that provide staff development and support to over 200 adult education agencies. Ati frequently asked questions, jamaica pdf the carter center. Access to information act financial services commission of. Minister colin campbell in jamaica access to information act 2002. To the access to information act the access to information act was passed in june, 2002. Members of the jamaican lgbt community are denied access to basic rights and services, resulting in. Implementing the actmentions a number of the advances in jamaica in encouraging. Chairperson of the access to information advisory stakeholders committee, dr. The freedom of information act foia is a federal law that gives the public the right to make requests for federal agency records. The access to information act arrangement of sections shon titlc. Similar statutes internationally recognize these concerns as well and make similar provisions. Jamaica does, however, have an access to information act.
This act may be cited as the jamaica intellectual property short title. Prepared by the access to information unit, office of the prime ministercompliance department page 1 government of jamaica the access to information act 2002 quarterly report form atiqra 1. The objects of this act are to reinforce and give furt her effect to certain fundamental principles underlying the system of constitutional democracy, namely. Requests for records from multiple institutions cannot be transferred. Government of jamaica the access to information act 2002. Requests made under the access to information act may be transferable to a federal institution with greater interest under certain circumstances. A national communication campaign was implemented while steps were taken to enhance enforcement of existing regulations. Local government of jamaica was introduced around 16621663, just a few years after the british capture of jamaica in 1655. I informing applicants when it is known that an official document requested is already published, and if requested, providing access. The success of access to information ati legislation is premised not only on a governments commitment towards disclosure but fundamentally on an effective records and information management programme. November 22 23, 2007 jamaica conference centre 14 20 port. Information on labels must be clear and prominently displayed.
This act may be cited as the access to information amendment act, 2003. Ations under section 3 7 the access to nformation regulations, 2003 made b. This act does not apply to the processing of personal data by a natural person in the course of a. The act gives a right for persons to request information from government in the form of official documents. Constitution of jamaica, as amended on 8 april 2011. In the caribbean, jamaica was the third caricom country to enact such. Prepared by the access to information unit, office of the prime minister compliance department page 2 3. Applications for access to official documents contd short description treatment of applications. Jamaica has a bilateral investment treaty with the united states. The access to information act government of jamaica. These regulations may be cited as the access to informanon c1a. The access to information act, 2002 ministry of finance.
An act to provide members of the public with a general right of access to official documents and for connected matters. This act was implemented in four phases, over an eighteen month period, commencing on january 5, 2004 with the following ministries and agencies. In the caribbean, jamaica was the third caricom country to enact such legislation after trinidad and belize. Thats the word from phillip paulwell, leader of government business in the house of representatives.
Legislation act 33 of 1991 entitled the exclusive economic zone act, 1991. Access to information and personal information request imm 5563 pdf, 2. Access to information act an act to provide members of the public with a general right of access to official documents and for connected matters. Access to information and privacy atip online request. The act, which provides citizens an enforceable right to official documents held by public. The objects of this act are to reinforce and give further obictsor effect to certain fundamental principles underlying the system of constitutional democracy, namely a governmental accountability. Access to court records in the family court is governed by section 166 of the family court act, which provides that the records of any proceeding in family court are not open to indiscriminate public inspection. An act to amend the access to information act 12th day of december, 2003 be it enacted by the queens most excellent majesty, by and with the advice and consent of the senate and house of representatives of jamaica, and by the authority of the same, as follows. Investment act wia title ii funding and managing state funding for employment preparation education epe, adult literacy education ale, and the welfare education program wep. The jamaica intellectual property office act ad 25 of 2001. Access to information act financial services commission. The access to information act was passed in june, 2002. The early form of local government was called the vestry system, patterned after. Ati access to information ministry of education, youth and.
One may not advertise a device without compliance to the food and drugs act and regulations. The impact of ati act on records management ministry of. The access to information act gives a general right of access to official documents held by government organizations. This was because the government recognized that the effectiveness of the legislation depended on the availability and accessibility of records. There are documents, which are exempt from disclosure under the access to information act. The government of jamaica goj records and information management rim policy is an output of the. The impact of the access to information act on records management in jamaica. These are documents which, it is believed, should not be disclosed in order to protect essential public interests or the privatebusiness affairs of others. According to the oas foreign trade information system, jamaica has also signed bilateral investment treaties with argentina, china, egypt, france, germany, indonesia, italy, netherlands, nigeria, spain, switzerland, united kingston, and zimbabwe. Nyssakaye darby, legal officer in june 2002, the government of jamaica passed the access to information ati act, after several rounds of discussion and consultation with members of various stakeholder groups. Your request will not be processed until your application fee is received. It gives citizens and other persons a general legal right of access to official government documents which would otherwise be inaccessible.
Access to information act to be amended jamaica information. The criminalization of homosexuality in jamaica dates back to the 1864 offences against the person act, which calls for a punishment of up to 10 years of imprisonment with hard labor for those convicted of the abominable crime of buggery. Lord woolf in franklyn and vincent v r 1993 42 wir 262 at page 267 an appeal from this. The date notified by the minister bringing the act into operation. The government of jamaica jamaica information service. The access to information act ati act gives you the legal right to see official documents held by government bodies.