Freedom of information legislation to be introduced in the British Virgin Islands

Sunday, November 16, 2003

ROAD TOWN, BVI: The Law Reform Commission (LRC) has initiated the process to introduce new legislation on freedom of information in the BVI, following the government's approval for reform work to begin in this area.

According to Deputy Chairman of the Commission Mr. Gerard Farara, Q.C., the Commission recently established a 12-member committee, which held its first meeting on November 12.

Mr. Farara said that the committee, which will continue meeting in January next year, consists of the commissioners from the LRC and representatives from various stakeholder agencies and media houses in the territory.

The commencement of the process to introduce legislation on access to public information is in keeping with the work programme that the Commission outlined last year, he remarked. Currently, laws to govern freedom of information in the territory are non-existent.

Legislation in this area will allow greater access to official information held by public authorities, but there will be checks and balances, as is the norm in any democratic society, such as the BVI. The final report is expected to be completed by June 2004.

No doubt, the move to introduce laws relating to freedom of information is a positive move by the new Administration, as the right to access data in public domain is an essential element of democratic governance. Such legislation usually defines access to information as a basic human right, in accordance with international human rights laws.

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