Information officers get further insight into right to access to information |04 March 2023

A partial view of guests and participants in a souvenir photograph

The Information Commission in collaboration with the government, the British high commission in Victoria and Anti-Corruption Commission Seychelles (ACCS), held a half-day convention on Wednesday for information officers (IOs).

The aim of the convention, held at the Eden Bleu Hotel, Eden Island, was for the IOs from government ministries, departments and agencies to inspire collaboration, connectivity and community, hence provide an opportunity to come together under one roof and be able to talk to each other personally, share updates, successes and weaknesses, learning, assess the Information Commission strategy direction and enhance joint knowledge, capacity, network and more.

It was in a way to get them to have a deeper understanding of what they must do to better provide the public with information they want from government and how to go about releasing it accurately through the practice of good governance and transparency and without being compromised to commit acts of corruption. It is to be noted that every person has a right to access to information from a public body.

Also present at the convention were the chief information commissioner, Mumtaz Hasan; chief executive of the Information Commission, Thereza Dogley; chief executive of ACCS, May De Silva; the deputy high commissioner from the British high commission (BHC), Mathew Harper; members of the information commission and of ACCS.

In her opening remarks, Ms Hasan said that the Information Commission had organised the convention as a sign of recognition and support to the IOs for their pivotal work as front line practitioners on good governance.

She noted that because of all the IOs’ hard work, integrity, commitment, activeness, skill and contribution, our citizens are able to have systematic ground support to secure their rights under article 28 of our constitution to access official public information and at the same time uphold fundamental human rights as set forth under the historic 1948 United nations ‘Universal Declaration of Human Rights.

“When information officers act conscientiously and collectively as a community, it has the power to bring about widespread transformation change both locally and globally in the attainment of just, equitable and peaceful societies,” Ms Hasan said.

She thanked the BHC for its ongoing support and commitment to the Information Commission to strengthen core democratic principles, shared values and community based initiatives and ACCS for supporting and broadening the IOs knowledge on anti-corruption and how it is connected to the IOs’ role at large.

Her opening remarks was followed by presentations with reference to the role and function of the Information Commission, the Access to Information Act, the auditing process, the role of ACCS in response to the prevention of corruption, group exercise and open discussion.    

The ATI act was enacted in June 2018 under which the role of an IO is to provide information about the organisation, manage and maintain public domain information; maintain social media presence; identify and produce information which cut cross another portfolio; ensure that information is kept safe, secure and easily accessible; maintain records of what has been requested, frequency etc…and to oversee the work of the assistant information officer if applicable.

The commission has the power to impose a maximum fine of R25, 000 on IOs for non compliance under the act which could also lead, through court proceeding, a liable fine of R200,000 in the event that an IO deliberately denies access to information.

It is to be noted that all IOs are covered under the act and cannot be held liable for releasing information in compliance with the act unless they fail to comply with the act. Currently there are 128 IOs working across ministries, departments and agencies.

“At the end of the day, we want the information officers, when they go back to their work places, to know that there is a network system in place made up of colleagues, including us at the commission, who are available at any time, to give them support so that they can better deliver information to the public,” Ms Dogley said.

With regard to partnership, Mr Harper said: “This is a great opportunity for a fellow democratic country to support another democratic country in taking forward the agenda of good governance, the rule of law, transparency and accountability of the shared values of the UK and Seychelles and I think it is really fundamental to supporting democracy.”

For her part, Ms De Silva said: “It’s an important partnership for us. ACCS is about good governance, transparency, accountability in the public sector and the information officers, their role is about that. The Information Commission is about ensuring that the public receives accurate information in an open and transparent manner, so it’s a natural partnership for us because we have a lot in common with regard to good governance.”

Text & photos by Patrick Joubert