Protest against Commissioner of Information continues today
Apr 04, 2025
Kaieteur News- A protest against the Office of the Commissioner of Information over the lack of information in Guyana will continue today from 12 noon.
Last Friday, a group of Guyanese, including lawyers, Opposition Members of Parliament (MPs), the independent media, and transparency organisations, picketed the office of Charles Ramson SC on East Street, Georgetown.
A section of protestors in front of the Office of the Commissioner of Information, Charles Ramson (senior), last week
Attorney Christopher Ram, who organised the activity, explained Thursday that he and other citizens have been attempting to obtain information from the Office. He said those requests were never met due to “ridiculous reasons”, including Ramson’s demand that he be addressed as Justice with S.C. O.R. following his name. Ram said the Commissioner of Information has been “playing games” with applicants, dismissing their requests with his personal interpretation of the Access to Information Act.
Protestors argued that the Act is not achieving its objective, although the Office receives some $40 million each year. Questions have also been raised about the operations of the Office and the lack of transparency surrounding its activities since a single annual report, as required by the Act, has not been tabled in the National Assembly to date.
The protest by Ram demands the true operationalisation of the Act, followed by a review and amendment more than a decade after its passage.
“The idea is to hold this picket for four weeks outside the Office of the Commissioner of Information at 340 East Street, Georgetown, and if there is no positive response from the government, to take it to the Office of the President, as it has portfolio responsibility,” Ram stated.
(Protest against Commissioner of Information continues today)
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