Event to Highlight Jamaica's International Right to Know Day

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

CONTACT: Carole Excell
In Kingston, 876-755-3641

WHAT ARE YOUR RIGHTS TO INFORMATION?
JAMAICA RECOGNIZES INTERNATIONAL RIGHT TO KNOW DAY

KINGSTON, JAMAICA…In recognition of International Right to Know Day, the public is invited Tuesday to hear an update on the implementation of Jamaica's Access to Information Act at the Courtleigh Hotel, Knutsford Boulevard, at 10 a.m. Minister of Information the Hon. Senator Burchell Whiteman, the Carter Center's Laura Neuman, Neville James of the Media Association of Jamaica, and Dr. Carolyn Gomes, executive director of Jamaicans for Justice, will speak at the event.

International Right to Know Day was designated Sept. 28 by nongovernmental organizations to raise awareness of freedom to information as a human right and to further the move for open access legislation worldwide. Tuesday marks the first time Jamaica has recognized the day.

More than 50 countries have legislation recognizing the public's right to access official government documents. Jamaica passed its Access to Information Act in 2002, and the law was implemented in January 2004. Guaranteeing the right to access information helps promote good governance by ensuring accountability and transparency in government decision-making.

Also on Tuesday, the Jamaican government has planned the following events: an access to information open day at the Ministry of Finance's office to address information requests from 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.; an access to information exhibition will be held at the Sovereign Center, 106 Hope Road in Kingston, 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m., and the St. James Parish Library in Montego Bay; and Minister of Information Burchall Whiteman will speak in Parliament about Jamaica's progress in implementing its Access to Information Act and its importance.

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The Carter Center was founded in 1982 by former U.S. President Jimmy Carter and his wife, Rosalynn, in partnership with Emory University, to advance peace and health worldwide. A not-for-profit, nongovernmental organization, the Center has helped to improve life for people in more than 65 countries by resolving conflicts; advancing democracy, human rights, and economic opportunity; preventing diseases; improving mental health care; and teaching farmers to increase crop production. To learn more about The Carter Center, please visit: www.cartercenter.org.