THE OFFICIAL Secrets Act of 1911 has fostered a culture of reluctance to release information from most departments of government. Generations of journalists, in particular, have faced the walls of "no comment" in seeking to do their job of transmitting information to the public.
Even the most devoted bureaucrat should concede that the operation of a democratic system warrants greater access to information beyond that which any administration would deem the public is entitled to.
Hence Information Minister Colin Campbell is on the right track in declaring that the impending Access to Information legislation should be a drastic departure from the 1911 Act. As he puts it, such restrictions do not "in modern days allow the system of open government and transparency." In effect, members of the public would for the first time get the legal right to access government information.
The change to this more modern legislation was initiated in 1996, culminating in drafting instructions in 1998; and finally in the draft bill tabled in Parliament two weeks ago.
What is of concern however is that the Minister now wishes to speed up the process without the adequate consultation and public discussion that is warranted.
Mr. Campbell has proposed a timetable which would accommodate what he describes as "a very aggressive meeting schedule" during January. The objective is to have the new legislation enacted by the end of the legislative year in March 2002.
In chairing the Parliamentary committee which is examining the bill the Minister would have heard the cautionary note from committee member Ronnie Thwaites to "make haste slowly". We support this position.
After more than a century of official secrecy we can see no reason for undue haste in adjusting to the demands of this new age of information.
The opinions on this page, except for the above, do not necessarily reflect the views of The Gleaner.
