Premier of the Virgin Islands Dr the Honourable D. Orlando Smith yesterday September 15, 2015 said that the Government has placed no timeline on the bringing of the Freedom of Information Act to the House of Assembly for passage. Photo: VINO/File

Talk show host Doug Wheatley said that there have been instances in the past where he and others were not able to get the kind of information that was required in order for them to carry out their jobs as media operatives. Photo: VINO/File

Talk show host Richard C. de Castro also wanted to know about the fate of the Freedom of Information Act. Photo: VINO/File

He made the comment in an exclusive interview with this news site following the completion of a working media breakfast on the implementation of a number of reforms in the financial services sector.

When asked when the legislation will make its way to the House of Assembly, the Premier said, “I can’t give you a definite time.”

During the session minutes earlier at Treasure Isle in Road Town, talk show hosts Douglas Wheatley and Richard C. de Castro made an appeal for the proposed Freedom of Information legislation to be passed into law.

Wheatley said there have been instances in the past where he and others were not able to get the kind of information that was required in order for them to carry out their jobs as media operatives.

“It is now a dawn of a new day…and so I am prepared to leave all that behind and to look forward to a new day and a new relationship with Government,” Mr Wheatley said.

He then urged member of the Financial Services Sector Implementation Task Force Gerard St. C. Farara to use his “bully pulpit” to nudge the Government to bring the Freedom of Information legislation to the House of Assembly.

De Castro said, “Like Doug I am still waiting on the Freedom of Information Act.”

Broken promises

The National Democratic Party government has made several promises to bring the Freedom of Information Bill before the House of Assembly but has not done so. Instead it quickly brought the Computer Misuse and Cybercrime Act, 2014 which has been criticised by certain sections of the VI as well as the international community as seeking to suppress online media houses and put journalists in jail.

Need for review

Some people are of the opinion that there might be the need to make changes since the draft has been around for such a lont time.

“It has been just sitting around in drawers, it needs to be reviewed now because I am sure that we have moved on from then and there might be need for changes to that. I don’t know whether that’s been done but as you said (a reporter) it has been promised in a Speech from the Throne and so one hopes that it is going to really happen soon,” said former Commissioner of Complaints Mr Elton Georges to this news site back in July.

Freedom of Information Act being studied

Premier Smith said the Freedom of Information Bill is something that he and his colleagues have studied before bringing it to Cabinet after which it would be brought to the House.

“There are several outstanding legislation which we are looking at and which we have to take to the House,” he said. Asked whether work was going on with the legislation he said, “Oh yes…members have it and are studying it.”

“It is something on the agenda…I can’t tell you exactly when. Because when we have important legislation we have to look at it carefully to do what is necessary and [get it right] before we take it to the House,” he said.