Transparency International, the global anti-corruption movement, and
its partner organisations in the Caribbean, including Citizens for a
Better Bahamas (CBB), call on the government of the Bahamas to introduce
strong Freedom of Information (FOI) legislation.
A FOI Act is a powerful tool in the fight against corruption. It
empowers citizens by giving them a mechanism to gain answers to
questions they have about how their country is governed. A FOI Act
promotes government transparency and accountability, and mitigates any
perception of corruption within the government.
More than 100 countries have implemented FOI laws but the Bahamas
remains one of the few countries within the Caribbean region that has
not.
“The enactment of a FOI Act should be a high priority for the Bahamas
and all governments that truly value democracy and the rights of its
citizens,” said Alejandro Salas, Regional Director for the Americas at
Transparency International, in support of the regional initiative.
Since 2012 there have been multiple delays preventing the enactment
and implementation of a viable FOIA in the Bahamas. While there has been
limited progress on public consultation, it is evident that the
enactment of a FOIA is not a high priority for the country’s legislative
agenda.
We, the undersigned, call on the Bahamian government to follow its
democratic principles by providing its citizens with the fundamental
human right of a Freedom of Information Act.
Transparency International
Citizens for a Better Bahamas
National Integrity Action, Jamaica
Trinidad & Tobago Transparency Institute
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