ST. KITTS AND NEVIS ENHANCES TRANSPARENCY WITH PASSAGE OF FREEDOM OF INFORMATION (AMENDMENT) BILL, 2024

Basseterre, St. Kitts, July 05, 2024 (SKNIS): The Federal Parliament of St. Kitts and Nevis has bolstered the nation’s commitment to transparency and good governance with the successful passage of the Freedom of Information (Amendment) Bill, 2024, on Friday, July 05, 2024. Attorney General (AG) and Minister of Justice and Legal Affairs, the Honourable Garth Wilkin, who moved the second reading of the Bill, said it introduces key changes to improve the operational efficiency and oversight of the Freedom of Information framework.

According to AG Wilkin, this amendment seeks to enable either the Ombudsman or the Special Prosecutor to serve as the Information Commissioner. He said that the original Freedom of Information Act, passed in 2018, was not operationalized until an amendment in February 2023, with full implementation achieved in November 2023. This Act is pivotal in providing a mechanism for public and press access to non-confidential government information while safeguarding sensitive information related to commercial interests, national security, law enforcement, and legal professional privilege to name a few.