PIFS commends Cooks on FOI Bill
PRESS STATEMENT (04/08)
PIFS commends Cooks Government on passage of first Pacific FOI law The 14th of February 2008 marks a landmark day in the Pacific, with the passage of the first Pacific Island Country Freedom of Information law by the Government of the Cook Islands. “The Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat commends the Government of Cook Islands for taking the lead in the region in passing legislation to enshrine this essential democratic right,” says Feleti Teo, Acting Forum Secretariat Secretary General. “The Pacific Plan recognises freedom of information as a key milestone under the Good Governance pillar of the Plan. The right to information is a key mechanism for promoting transparent and accountable governance, and participatory development. With a right to access government information, the people of the Pacific can more effectively engage with their governments,” says Mr Teo The Cook Islands Official Information Act will come into force on 11th February 2009, one year after its enactment. The Government will use this time to prepare government departments and officials to get their records in order and develop systems and processes to facilitate access to information. “The Government will also need to focus resources on promoting routine disclosure of useful government information, as a means of streamlining access and supporting officials to efficiently implement their disclosure duties. It is essential that when the Act comes into force, the public can effectively exercise their right to request information from the government,” says Dr Henry Ivarature, the Forum’s Regional Governance Adviser Throughout the world more than 70 countries have passed FOI laws. In the Pacific region, Australia and New Zealand passed FOI laws more than 25 years ago. Papua New Guinea’s Constitution recognises the right to information, but until now no Pacific Island Country had passed a national FOI law to provide a framework for accessing information. “It is a great step forward for the Pacific that one of the members of the region has joined the growing group of nations recognising the right of their people to access information that will enable them to more effectively participate in their own governance and development. PIFS will continue to support other PIC Governments to move forwards in developing information disclosure policies or legislation,” says Dr Ivarature. ENDS |
2008