Information: Currency of Democracy

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                                                                               Done by: Natassja Douse

                                                        Form 6A

                                                                Glenmuir High

                Teacher: Mrs. Dahlia Bartley

                

Why is the Access to Information Act 2002 important to Jamaica’s Democracy and how can it be used to improve your community.

By Natassja Douse


Information: The Currency of Democracy

An eminent government without the means of acquiring or providing information is only an introduction to a travesty or tragedy or perhaps both. For that reason it is imperative that the free flow of information is endorsed by the political authority of a country. According to Thomas Jefferson, “Information is the currency of democracy.” Democracy is the free and equal right of every person to participate in a system of government, often practiced by electing representatives of the people by the majority of the people. In other words freedom of information is key to a democratic system of government.

Jamaica is the trailblazer in the region on access to information as it is fundamental in maintaining and enhancing the country’s democracy. In passing and implementing the Information Act 2002, Jamaica has established an innovative and more unrestricted form of governance and has achieved what other Caribbean countries are still attempting.

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The Act provides members of the public with a general right of access to official government documents held by public authorities which would have otherwise been inaccessible. The Act was made applicable to the following ministries and agencies (public authorities): The Ministry of Finance and Planning, Ministry of Local Government, Office of Cabinet, Office of the Prime Minister, Jamaica Information Service, National Works Agency, and The Planning Institute of Jamaica. In addition, The Act also “reinforces and gives further effect to certain fundamental principles underlying the system of constitutional democracy…” (The Access to Information Act 2002, Part 1: Preliminary, no.2). ...

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