Access to the Information Act 2018 Act calls for radical shift in government culture |22 August 2018

 Dr Lemieux addressing the workshop delegates yesterday

A shift in mindset, a change in government culture – from secrecy to openness – is needed if the Access to the Information Act 2018 is to be properly implemented.

This was the resounding message which came out of a workshop organised yesterday by the department of information and led by Dr Valerie Lemieux, a specialist from the World Bank Group, as part of the preparation process for the implementation of the Access to Information (ATI) Act.

Present at the half-day session were principal secretaries, chief executives and heads of public bodies who have to implement the ATI in their organisations' structure.

The National Assembly approved the ATI in May this year and the Act was later assented to by President Danny Faure on July 20, effectively including Seychelles within the 75% of countries in the world that have established similar laws.

The law provides the public with and facilitates access to government information with the aim of promoting a more open, transparent government.

Principal secretary for information, Denis Rose, explained that in the meantime that an Information Commission is set up, as per the ATI, the department of information is taking the leading role and preparing public bodies and other stakeholders involved.

It is the Constitutional Appointment Authority (CAA) that has the mandate to seek and propose candidates to fill in the various positions on this commission.

In his opening remarks, PS Rose said that the ATI has become a requirement for any democratic society since it allows its citizens to take part in the affairs of their government.

He highlighted that this does away “with unnecessary secrecy in government”.

It is to be noted that although the ATI gives access to most information there are still certain categories that are exempted from disclosure to the public such as documents pertaining to national security and personal information.

However PS Rose emphasised to the heads of agencies that non-disclosure of information should be the exception and not the rule.

“For this to happen, there must be a radical change of mindset where all officials who work in public organisations become committed to openness. We must bear in mind that releasing of government information has traditionally been treated with great care,” said PS Rose.

“A lot of government information are perceived as confidential information simply on the notion that it is a ‘government document’. Now, with the Access to Information Act we are asking that this mindset be changed. It may not be easy, but this change must happen if the law is to be implemented as it should.”

He stated that the heads of agencies’ roles are to adopt and promote openness within their organisation to allow the smooth flow of information to the public and “should take ownership of this law to ensure its proper implementation”.

Dr Lemieux’s presentation also touched on the subject of mindset change but she even went further by adding that the citizens should be provided with the capacity to adapt to these changes.

“The citizens themselves have to be strengthened because it is a big shift for them too; to know how to use the law effectively, to take responsibility, to be in partnership with government. This leads to a much healthier, engaged society,” Dr Lemieux said.

When citizens are shut out of government they often become disengaged, cynical and less trusting of authorities, she added.

The workshop sessions with Dr Lemieux will continue today with a session for information officers and tomorrow for the civil society and media houses.