[kictanet] Freedom of Information laws and records management/ e- discussion continued

Wed Oct 19 01:58:22 EAT 2011

Harry, thanks for those probing questions that have kept this discussion going and continue to raise more questions.  As a result, our attention has been drawn to a very important document. Kudos to Kerubo for the responses.

Rosemary, the Africa Platform on Access to Information Declaration is a great document. It is comprehensive and we appreciate your bringing it to our attention. It will contribute to the review of the IRMT/IDRC study on aligning records management with ICT, e-goverment and freedom of information, which has been the basis of this e-discussion.

In your contribution, you point out that access to information cannot succeed unless government takes initiative to develop legislation and ensure its implementation. Harry felt that the State must at all costs avail information. The question to listers is: 

 What demands would Freedom of Information (FOI) legislation place on government?

Henry, you have unpackaged the Right to Information (RTI) concept in a very practical and relevant manner. The local example using Mavoko is on spot. I know listers will take you up on your offer to seek more information on the topic.

You point out the need to have information in retrievable formats and proactively making as much of such information public. Also, that public servants/officers have a duty to assist citizens who may not know where to find information they may need. 

What strategies could be developed to synchronize Freedom of Information and records management initiatives?

And finally  to Harry: did you find out what the citizens’ responsibility would be in all this?

A great day to all of you listers. Lets hear your views.

Rgds
Grace

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If you have the strength to survive, you have the power to succeed. Life is all about choices we make depending upon the situation we are in. Go forth and rule the World!

From: harry at comtelsys.co.ke
Date: Tue, 18 Oct 2011 13:58:44 +0300
Subject: Re: [kictanet] Freedom of Information laws/ e- discussion continued
CC: kictanet at lists.kictanet.or.ke
To: ggithaiga at hotmail.com

Many thanks Kurubo/Grace,

I suppose then, in light of the foregoing, State must at all costs avail "information" under it's possession.

Citing the "Freedom of information" clause within this context however, makes it imperative for State to 
do so within universally adopted benchmarks. But within  the same context, what is the citizen's 
responsibility?

I could check this out. But does the clause in the same vein confer a mandatory responsibility upon the 
citizen to ensure their exercise of this "Right to access" does not go to waste, or does he/she have the 
freedom to exercise this right/liberty liberally.

One can argue that for instance,  a mother who fails to vaccinate her child against polio, because of "failure"
to access information as opposed to "lack" of access to information should be held responsible. Is this 
enforceable in law..? How?

Lastly but not least, State has only a tiny custody of information consumable by the public. I dare say that
a lot of information/knowledge sought after by information consumers fall well outside the State domain.

How do we police those outside, who hoard information desperately needed by consumers...? And what
of those who deliberately avail misleading information/knowledge, including state..?

Harry

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