Tag: Jan Liebaers
Governor takes ‘nuclear option’ on Ritch Report
(CNS): In the most emphatic effort yet by the authorities to keep a lid securely on the controversial Ritch Report, which was commissioned by the premier, the governor has signed a certificate declaring that the Information Commissioner’s Office cannot see this secret report. Using what can only be termed as a ‘nuclear option’, the certificate, […]
Info boss presses on with fight to see Ritch Report
(CNS): Jan Liebaers, the acting information commissioner, has confirmed that he is not giving up on the fight to see the controversial Ritch Report, a review of the government’s immigration laws and policies, which the authorities are fighting hard to keep secret. Liebaers has told CNS that his office has filed an appeal of a […]
CJ denies ICO access to Ritch report
(CNS): The chief justice has ruled that the premier does not have to show the controversial Ritch report on the immigration law to the information commissioner because of legal privilege. In a 44-page decision, the country’s top judge accepted the public interest in and the problems with immigration legislation but nevertheless found that the premier could […]
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 […]
Figures reveal speedier FOI requests
(CNS): The latest statistics from the Information Commissioner’s office have revealed a 42% drop in the number of freedom of information requests being made by members of the public. But the numbers published to mark this year’s Right to Know week have also revealed that government is getting much quicker at responding to the requests. […]
ICO backs keeping lid on Health City doctors’ details
(CNS): The Information Commissioner’s Office has upheld a decision by the information manager at the Health Regulatory Services (HRS) not to disclose the detailed qualifications of medical professionals at Health City Cayman Islands (HCCI) because it is personal information which would not be reasonable to disclose. Balancing the public interest factors for and against disclosure, […]
Ministry shows ‘blatant disregard’ for FOI
(CNS): The Ministry of Education, Employment and Gender Affairs has been heavily criticised by the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) and reported to the deputy governor regarding a freedom of information request for records relating to national pensions that took more than a year. Acting Commissioner Jan Liebaers said the ministry’s response to the applicant was reluctant […]
FOI boss orders fee review on records search
(CNS): In his latest hearing decision, the information commissioner has found that while there are instances when a public authority can charge a freedom of information applicant a fee to search for records, it must be reasonable. Following a hearing over a fee of more than $500 that was charged to recover deleted emails by […]
CAL makes inadequate search over FOI request
(CNS): Cayman Airways Limited (CAL) failed to respond adequately to a freedom of information request, Acting Information Commissioner Jan Liebaers found in his latest appeal decision. However, because the airline eventually made good on the request and during the process of the hearing released more documents, he ultimately dismissed the appeal by a former employee seeking records relating to his […]
CIAA ordered to release ‘go around’ records
(CNS): The acting information commissioner has ordered the Cayman Islands Airports Authority to release an Air Traffic Control (ATC) Occurrence Report and the recording relating to a ‘go-around’ incident at the airport last March. The CIAA refused to grant these following a freedom of information request in the wake of the incident but Jan Liebaers found in his […]
