More than 100 requests for public information have been submitted to PATI (Public Access to Information) since the Act was passed last April.

Of those, 23 were refused in whole; 16 had access granted in part and 34 had access granted in whole during the period between April 1 to December 31, 2015. Twenty nine decisions are pending.

Details of Information Commissioner Gitanjali Gutierrez’ first annual report were released yesterday.

“Our Annual Report provides a snapshot of the first ten months of the PATI Act,” said Ms Gutierrez. “We knew that the public and public authorities are interested in information about the early use of the Act.”

“This is also the first opportunity the Information Commissioner and our staff have had to share our vision for building a new institution to support the democratic process and good governance. The Annual Report explains how the Information Commissioner seeks to establish a long-lasting, independent office to provide robust and fair oversight of the PATI Act.

“It also sets out clearly the Information Commissioner’s Key Performance Indicators for 2016, giving everyone a sense of the work we are setting out to accomplish.”

The first reported PATI request was received on April 1 by the Planning Department and full access was granted.

From then up to the end of December, 102 requests were submitted.

Public authorities reported a total of 11 requests for an internal review (an internal appeal) to be decided by the head of the authority:

• 8 internal review decisions refused access in whole or in part;

• 1 internal review decision granted access in whole, and;

• 2 internal review decisions were still pending as of December 31, 2015.

The Information Commissioner’s Office received 11 applications for an independent review by the Information Commissioner in 2015:

• 4 of the independent reviews were closed (one was settled and three came to the Information Commissioner too early), and;

• 7 reviews were pending as of December 31.

The final reported PATI request was received by the Department of Marine and Ports on December 24 (and eventually in 2016 partial access was granted).

Copies of the Annual Report are available at www.ico.bm or by emailing a request for a copy to info@ico.bm. Limited copies will be made available from our Office at the Valerie T. Scott Building, 60 Reid Street, Hamilton this Wednesday.

• For full statement, click on PDF link under Related Media