Chief Information Officer Desiree Smith confirmed during Standing Finance Committee that Government Information Services (GIS) supports the Governor but neither the Opposition nor the Junior Ministers. Photo: GIS/File

Member for the Second District Hon Melvin M. Turnbull, right, had wanted to know how come the Governor can get coverage from Government Information Services (GIS) when the department falls under the Premier’s Office but the Opposition and Junior Ministers are not entitled to coverage from GIS. Left: Governor John J. Rankin. Photo: Facebook/File

Member for the Eighth District Hon Marlon A. Penn, left, and Junior Minister for Culture and Tourism and Member for the Fourth District Hon Luce D. Hodge-Smith, right, all had questions about has access to Government Information Services. Photo: Facebook/File

The Member for the Second District, Hon Melvin M. Turnbull, inquired if Government Information Services (GIS) is also supposed to include coverage for matters of the Opposition. In response, the CIO stated that the Department of Information and Public Relations is a department under the Premier's Office “that works for the government of the day.” She stated that the “House of Assembly is a mechanism that supports the Members of the Opposition, and there is a Public Relations Officer (PRO) that lends support to the communication needs for the Opposition Members.”

No coverage for Opposition by GIS 

The Member for the Second District inquired if the Government Information Services (GIS) falls under the Premier's Office reporting information for the government as the CIO stated, “Then where does the Governor fall in this whole ordeal?”

The CIO confirmed that “GIS lends support to the Office of the Governor by way of dissemination of information as it relates to the portfolio.”

In confirming that support is provided to the Governor by GIS and not elected Opposition Members, she noted that “the work of the officers, the public relations and communications officers that would lend support to the Governor would be through the Deputy Governor's Office, where the portfolio has been devolved to the Deputy Governor.”

Where is the policy?

The Member for the Eighth District Hon Marlon A. Penn just wanted to follow up on the line of questioning that was previously asked. He queried that he wanted clarity because they want to make sure that moving forward, it is clear what the guidelines are for accessing support from GIS.

The Member for the Eighth District mentioned that he had this discussion a few budgets ago about whether the Governor had access to GIS. He indicated that at the time the decision was that the Government and all Members would have access to the services offered by GIS.

The Member for the Eighth District then inquired if GIS had a different policy/guideline as to how the services being offered by GIS could be accessed and by whom? If the policy/guidelines do exist, he requested it to be shared with the Committee.

The Junior Minister for Culture and Tourism and Member for the Fourth District Hon Luce D. Hodge-Smith also indicated “that Junior Ministers do not get access to GIS.”

The Member for the Eighth District mentioned that he wanted to be clear on what the policy is on access to GIS services, as over the years the Committee has received conflicting positions.

He further stated that if a Cabinet-approved policy exists that says that this is how GIS services are accessed, it should be known by all and should be followed, to avoid decisions on granting access to the services.

The CIO could not in her testimony state the policy that bars Junior Ministers or Opposition Members’ access to GIS but not the Governor.