Enactment of FOIA Is Key To Restoring Public Trust

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NASSAU, BAHAMAS – The Freedom of Information Act was passed back in 2017, but nearly a decade later, Bahamians are still waiting for the law to be fully enacted. The Organization for Responsible Governance says that delay not only raises red flags internationally, but also deepens mistrust at home.

Leading the charge is ORG’s Executive Director Matthew Aubrey, who argues that greater transparency is the first step to rebuilding confidence between citizens and the state.

“The Organization Responsible Governance has long advocated for freedom of information to be fully enacted and resourced, and…you might be aware, but during the budget season, we really pushed a lot of information out.”

“We went to over five different islands and talked to folks in the communities about what is freedom of information, and we heard back from them that there is a real interest,” he said.

Government’s allocation of $140K for FOIA has been long criticized.

Prior to the 2025/2026 Budget Communication, ORG has been pushing the government for greater urgency, holding community meetings across multiple islands, encouraging residents to lobby their MPs, and pressing for more funding to support implementation.

“ It had been noted that there needed to be probably about a million dollars for public education, for the technology that would be required to make sure that [the] government can implement the appropriate way, and that there could be training internal to government so that folks know how to resource and do this through the freedom of information unit,” Aubrey said.

Aubrey points out that proper enactment would mean real access to government decisions, procurement contracts, and accountability mechanisms.

Without it, he says, The Bahamas risks discouraging reputable investors while giving the green light to questionable ones.

However, in the end, the executive director says the FOIA is more than just catching bad guys.

“ It’s really about unleashing the social and the economic opportunities that come with it. We want citizens to trust in the system, we want them to play their role, we want them to comply with whatever laws or taxes they’re supposed to as well. [Subsequently]…it creates a balance playing field between government and citizens,” Aubrey said.

With International Access To Information Day coming up in September, ORG says it will continue pressing for the act to be prioritized, not just promised.