The Premier has taken an about-face on the issue of PATI retroactivity, commenting:
“I wish to advise this honourable House that when I invite Cabinet’s further consideration of the bill it will contain a recommendation that it consider the issue of retroactivity. Personally, I wish it to be clearly understood that I am in favour of retroactivity right back to the Sea Venture.”
If he supports retroactivity, then why did he – as the Minister responsible – propose a draft law that did not include it?
It’s positive that the PLP seems willing to correct this major shortcoming in the draft law. Let’s hope that they also deal with the law’s loose handling of exemptions, it’s lack of whistleblower protection, and the negative resolution approach to removing public authorities from transparency under the law.
If the PLP is sincere in their Throne Speech commitment to “modernise the Legislature”, then the updating of the draft PATI law should be undertaken by a bipartisan committee of the House, rather than be decided solely within the confines of Cabinet.
Dr. Brown also announced that Government will kick off an internal review of Government’s record keeping practices – with a report due in mid-2010 – to help lay ground work for an eventual PATI implementation.
Global Voices Online » Bermuda: Of Leglisation and Violence // Dec 7, 2009 at 9:14 am
[...] bloggers discuss the issue of retroactivity as it applies to the proposed Public Access to Information legislation, while Catch a fire hopes [...]