Golding speaks out against public entities that block access to information

Opposition Leader Mark Golding has hit out at public entities that use the Data Protection Act to block media access to how they are using taxpayers' money.

"I am very concerned about the insidious abuse of the Data Protection Act by State officials to restrict disclosure of potentially damning information in which there is strong and legitimate public interest," he said at today's People's National Party (PNP) 86th annual conference in St Andrew.

The PNP president pointed to recent cases of Tax Administration Jamaica refusing to disclosure two multimillion-dollar leases, claiming that to do so would breach the privacy law.

It later released the names of the parties in the lease but there's been no update on its talks with the Office of the Information Commissioner, which contradicted it'd stance.

The Cannabis Licensing Authority and the Office of the Services Commissions have also invoked the Data Protection Act to block requests for information.

Golding said the questionable use of the privacy law is an attempt to "hide" information.

"There is no accountability for non-performance in this JLP [Jamaica Labour Party] Administration," he said.

He also argued that the Government "negligently allows critical boards and tribunals to grind to a halt because of failure to make appointments when the terms of the boards expire."

He pointed to the Early Childhood Commission, the Access to Information Appeals Tribunal, and the Public Service Commission.

READ: Attorney prepared to bring Gov't to court over absence of ATI Appeals Tribunal

He said these instances are examples of the Government "falling asleep on the job".

- Jovan Johnson

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