By Lynford Simpson, Staff Reporter
Campbell
CABINET RECORDS which are currently classified will become available to the public as soon as the Access to Information Act becomes operational, Colin Campbell, Information Minister told Parliament yesterday.
An amendment to the Archives Act and the repealing and replacement of the 1911 Official Secrets Act will also be necessary to facilitate public access to Cabinet material, Mr. Campbell said.
The Minister who was making his contribution to the 2002/2003 Sectoral Debate in the House of Representatives said the new Access to Information Bill will result in a "revolution in the provision of Government information". The Bill will be debated in the Senate on Friday and according to Campbell, will "institutionalise the right of citizens to access information generated and held by Government".
"I also want to use this opportunity to inform the House that on our 40th anniversary of independence in August we will be sending the first set of Cabinet documents to the Archives, thereby opening the first set of secret and confidential documents in independent Jamaica," the Information Minister stated.
He explained that currently, the Archives Act provides for the archiving of documents after 30 years. However, no Cabinet files have been sent to the Archives since independence. Such documents covering the first 10 years of independence (1962-1972) will now become available.
Meantime, attorney-at-law Aylair Livingston has been named as director of the soon to be established Access to Information Unit.
The unit will be responsible for monitoring the new Information Act, and providing guidance to public authorities on all aspects of the Act. It has been mandated to work closely with all Government ministries and agencies to ensure that the necessary structures and systems are in place for the successful application of the Act; launch a public education campaign to inform members of the public about their rights under the Act; and developing brochures and other collateral information to provide guidelines for the public about the basis on which they can access information.
The Government Records Centre has provided training for more than 428 government employees in archival and records management in an effort to prepare them for the new legislation.
Mr. Campbell also disclosed yesterday that the Creative Production and Training Centre (CPTC) has been selected as the post-production facility for the international media covering next month's World Junior Games to be held inside the National Stadium.
