Public Access To Information (PATI) Act and Regulations Now In Force

Public Access To Information (PATI) Act and Regulations Now In Force

In Canada, the Access to Information Act provides the public the right of access to information under the control of a federal government institution. In the USA, the Freedom of Information Act allows for the disclosure of documents controlled by the United States government to the public. In the UK, the Freedom of Information Act gives the public the right to obtain access to information held by public authorities. In the Cayman Islands, these rights fall under the Freedom of Information Law. In Jamaica, the relevant legislation is the Access to Information Act. In Trinidad and Tobago, it’s the Freedom of Information Act.

Today, there are over 90 countries worldwide that have enacted freedom of information laws, each one establishing a “right-to-know” legal process by which requests can be made for records and information held by national governments for free or at minimal cost. This legislation aims to “lift the veil” which shrouds government records, bring them to light and, as a result, promote a culture of openness, transparency and accountability.

And now, as of 1 April 2015, after years in the making, the Public Access to Information [PATI] Act 2010 has become operational in Bermuda, effectively permitting members of the public to make requests for records and information from the government.

The purpose of PATI is outlined clearly in Section 2 of the Act. It states:

Purpose
2. The purpose of this Act is to—
(a) give the public the right to obtain access to information held by public authorities to the greatest extent possible, subject to exceptions that are in the public interest or for the protection of the rights of others;
(b) increase transparency, and eliminate unnecessary secrecy, with regard to information held by public authorities;
(c) increase the accountability of public authorities;
(d) inform the public about the activities of public authorities, including the manner in which they make decisions; and
(e) have more information placed in the public domain as a matter of routine.

Furthermore, the PATI Regulations 2014 create the infrastructure for the provision of access to information, and the Government Fees Regulations 1976 have been amended to include a schedule of fees for information requests (see Head 52A). Fees were established after a comparative analysis of fee structure schemes in other jurisdictions was undertaken and aim to promote access without imposing a financial burden that might discourage residents from making a request.

The scope of this new system in which the public has the right to access the records and information of public authorities in Bermuda is not without limitations. Although the definition of “public authority” is wide reaching and includes every entity that is funded by the government, including the Bermuda College for instance, it is important to note that public access to records is permitted within statutory parameters, meaning that there are a few instances in which access might be denied. This includes, for example, records relating to the preparation of legislation such as drafting instructions, draft Bills and draft statutory instruments. For more details, exempt records are outlined in Part 4 of the Act.

As for oversight and promotion of PATI implementation, on 27 Feb 2015 Governor of Bermuda George Fergusson announced that he had appointed Ms Gitanjali Gutierrez to be Bermuda’s first Information Commissioner, starting 2 March 2015, in advance of the Act becoming operational on 1 April 2015. Ms. Gutierrez is an internationally recognized human rights lawyer with over a decade of experience with public access to information laws.

In a statement reported by the local press in Bermuda, Commissioner Gutierrez asserts that “In many countries throughout the world, the public’s right to access to information held by the government is a critical part of a robust democracy – information has been called the ‘currency’ of a democracy. When the public can get information as a matter of right, rather than as a matter of discretion, it allows everyone to engage in public policy debates and participate in a democracy in an informed manner. This ultimately leads to better decision making, accountability, and policies.” (Source: Bernews)

The role of the Information Commissioner’s Office for Bermuda is outlined on their website, which states:

“The Information Commissioner’s Office is an independent, non-governmental office that promotes and oversees the use of the PATI Act by promoting the public’s awareness of their rights under the PATI Act; by providing general guidance about and oversight of public authorities’ responsibilities under the PATI Act; and by hearing, investigating and ruling on requesters’ appeals from public authorities’ decisions about requests for records.”

Although it will be a significant culture shift within public authorities in Bermuda to commit to making information available to the public as part of their normal activities, Premier Michael Dunkley has affirmed that “The new PATI regime will change the relationship between people and their government, conferring more power on the individual than ever before, and requiring greater levels of government accountability than ever before. It’s going to work for the benefit of Bermuda and Bermudians in untold ways – broadening understanding and confidence in the way we do business as a Country. I am proud and pleased to make it finally happen.” (Source: Bernews)

Links:
Information Commissioner’s Office for Bermuda
Bermuda Judiciary PATI Information Statement
Government of Bermuda Cabinet Office “Welcome to Public Access To Information (PATI)”
Public Access to Information [PATI] Act 2010
The Public Access to Information [PATI] Amendment Act 2014
Public Access to Information [PATI] Regulations 2014
Government Fees Regulations 1976 [see Head 52A for schedule of fees for PATI requests]