Tag: FOI
Ministry rejects need to apologise over FOI
(CNS): The Ministry of Finance and Economic Development has made it clear that no one from there will be apologising over the alleged mishandling of a freedom of information request and has taken aim at the Ombudsman, suggesting her press release was “unwarranted”. A release from the office of Financial Secretary Kenneth Jefferson said the […]
ICO warns of ‘weaknesses’ with CIG websites
(CNS): The Information Commissioner’s Office has warned that “serious problems remain” across government as departments are still not updating or properly utilizing their websites to allow the public access to information. In its most recent review of 89 public authorities, the ICO found significant improvements on the results of its assessment in 2011 but found […]
Right to Know Week – It’s Yours, Just Ask!
Jan Liebaers, Acting Information Commissioner, writes: The Information Commissioner’s Office has just finished another annual celebration of Right to Know Week, with events from 26 September to 3 October 2016. Every year 28 September is observed around the world as International Right to Know Day to raise awareness of the right to access government records […]
Ritch report still not public after FOI review
(CNS): The government is still insisting that the report conducted by local attorney David Ritch into issues surrounding the immigration law is protected by attorney-client privilege and will not be released, despite the continued public interest. Ritch was asked by government more than a year ago to review the points system government had introduced for […]
Shetty hospital chief defends doctor’s credentials
(CNS): The CEO and head of medical services at Health City Cayman Islands (HCCI) has defended the qualifications and experience of his doctors after the Department of Health Regulatory Services refused a freedom of information request to release details of the medical staff at the hospital. Dr Chandy Abraham described his team as “highly qualified doctors […]
Disclosure ordered in dentist complaint FOI case
(CNS): Documents detailing complaints made against a dentist by three former employees should be released, the acting information commissioner has found in his latest decision over a disputed freedom of information request. The Department of Health Regulatory Services had withheld information following the dentist’s request about the complaints made against him on the basis that […]
Report on legal review under wraps
(CNS): A report by a UK prosecutor who came to the Cayman Islands earlier this year to review the local criminal justice system will not be made public anytime soon. The governor’s office has refused to release the document by Claire Wetton, which examined the way criminal caseloads are being handled by the crown and […]
Wide disparity in pay for CIG board chairs
(CNS): The fees that chairmen and directors receive for serving on government company or authority boards varies widely, according to a recent FOI release requested by a CNS reader. Although volunteers, most board members are given some kind of fee to cover expenses for attending meetings but the payments being made vary widely for no apparent reason, […]
FOI law ‘critical’, says premier
(CNS): Despite his recent criticisms of what he termed “Mickey Mouse” requests under the freedom of information legislation, the premier has confirmed his support of the law, which he described as “critical”. But Alden McLaughlin said he still had concerns that the system was being abused by some requesters. He said this hampered the ability […]
Information boss cannot call back released data
(CNS): As the Office of the Information Commissioner (ICO) begins an enquiry into the recent release of a swathe of data relating to work permits, officials confirmed that the ICO cannot step in to resolve disputes over personal information until Cayman has a data protection law. Jan Liebaers, the acting information commissioner, said Thursday that he was […]
Finance firms challenge FOI release
(CNS): Four local private sector financial services firms have taken legal action to challenge the release of information by the immigration department in response to what is understood to be a number of freedom of information requests relating to work-permits held by local companies. Maples Finance, Ernst & Young, KPMG and Butterfield have secured a Grand […]
