Civil society coalition renews call for overhaul of Access to Information Act

A coalition of civil society organisations and concerned citizens is urging the Government to establish a Joint Select Committee to review and modernise Jamaica's Access to Information (ATI) Act, arguing that long-promised reforms have stalled despite years of commitments.

In an open letter sent on Wednesday to Minister of Information Senator Dr Dana Morris Dixon, the coalition called for the committee to be established during the current parliamentary session to begin overhauling legislation that has remained largely unchanged since it came into force in 2002.

The letter, signed by 20 organisations and seven individuals, noted that the Act requires periodic review and pointed to recommendations made by a Joint Select Committee in 2011 that have never been implemented.

Speaking on behalf of the coalition, Mickel Jackson said successive administrations have repeatedly signalled that reforms were coming, but little progress has been made.

"As recently as 2021, then Minister Robert Morgan indicated that the ministry was awaiting comments from the Attorney General's Chambers," said Jackson, who is the executive director of Jamaicans for Justice.

"Similar statements have been made by Dr Dixon, who indicated that Cabinet, being guided by the Attorney General's Chambers' comments, will decide on establishing a Joint Select Committee or proceed with amendments based on past recommendations."

However, nothing has come from those developments, she said.

"Meaningful legislative reform has been delayed for too long, and a clear pathway forward is urgently needed," Jackson said, adding that the delays are inconsistent with the country's commitments under the Open Government Partnership.

Describing the letter as being written "in a spirit of partnership", she urged the Government to establish the committee by September to facilitate broad public consultation.

"A modernised Access to Information Act is essential to realising citizens' constitutional right to information, promoting transparency, and strengthening good governance," Jackson stressed.

The coalition has asked that the review address longstanding concerns with the legislation and ensure it reflects modern governance standards and international best practices.

The Access to Information Act gives members of the public the legal right to request official government documents, subject to specified exemptions.

However, advocates have long argued that legislative gaps and delays in reform have weakened the law's effectiveness as a tool for transparency and public accountability.

- Corey Robinson

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