Organiser: Freedom of Information Commissioner's Office

Date: 28th September 2009
Event: International Right to Know Week (RTK)

Its key aim is to emphasise the importance and benefits of government openness and accountability in any democratic society - to provide citizens with the right to know what their government is doing on their behalf.

To mark the occasion in the Cayman Islands, and to highlight and promote the new Freedom of Information Law 2007 (FOI), the Information Commissioner's Office (ICO) will be hosting a week of FOI-themed events from 27 September until 3 October 2009

The theme for the week is "Exercise Your Rights - Make a Request".

"Previously known as Sunshine Week in 2007 and 2008, we have rebranded it RTK which is more in line with the direct objectives of the ICO," said Jennifer Dilbert, Information Commissioner of the Cayman Islands.

"Freedom of Information Legislation is paramount to a democratic and forward thinking society which is why promoting this new law and educating the public on how they can use it is essential to its continued success.

"By introducing this Law in our Islands our government, both past and present, has demonstrated that it is wholly committed to an open and transparent government that is fully accountable to its people in accordance with core principles of democracy," she said.

The week's events kick off in true Caymanian tradition on Sunday, 27 September with a worship service at Elmslie Memorial United Church in George Town.

Then on RTK Day itself, Ms Dilbert and her staff will be hosting an afternoon tea from 2:00pm to 4:00pm at the Information Commissioner's Office in Elizabethan Square.

ICO staff will be on hand to answer questions and offer guidance on how the public can make FOI requests.

The event is open to the public and ICO welcomes anyone who wants to learn about the role of the ICO and to get assistance with making a request.

Other Right to Know Week activities include the Information Commissioner's appearance on CITN's Daybreak, the Rooster Crosstalk Show, Radio Cayman's Talk Today and presentations to the Sunrise Rotary and Rotary Grand Cayman Clubs.

On Friday, 2 October, Ms Dilbert and her Deputy, Gary Cordes, will be visiting Cayman Brac to open the Sister Islands Information Commissioner's Office and host a number of other events.

Mr Cordes will be providing a talk to the school's assembly that morning, which will be followed with a visit to Faith Hospital to provide more general information to the public.

The Commissioner will host an ‘open house' at the Brac House on Cotton Tree Bay Road between the hours of 2:00pm and 5:00pm to answer any questions the public might have and to guide people on how they can exercise their right and make an FOI request.

ICO staff will be visiting the Brac periodically during the year to further promote FOI and to assist individuals.

The week concludes with a Right to Know Fun Walk / Run / Ride-a-thon on Saturday, 3 October.

The event is hosted by the FOI Unit, who in previous years hosted the Sunshine Walk. The first 50 participants in the free will receive a complimentary t-shirt.

Registration opens at 6:30 am at the Seven Mile Public Beach and the event officially starts at 7:00 am.