Citizens to stage protest today against lack of access to information in Guyana

Mar 28, 2025 News

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Kaieteur News- Guyanese are now becoming more frustrated by the seeming lack of interest by the Commissioner of Information, Charles Ramson S.C, to fulfill his duties, in keeping with the Access to Information Act of 2011.

A group of citizens has therefore organised a protest to demonstrate against the lack of access to information in Guyana. The exercise will be conducted from 12 noon at the Office of the Commissioner of Information, 340 East Street, between Middle and Quamina Streets.

In a statement to the media, Attorney-at-Law Christopher Ram explained that over the years, he, as well as former President of Transparency Institute of Guyana Inc. (TIGI), Frederick Collins, former Auditor General (AG), Anand Goolsarran, and transparency advocate, Alfred Bhulai, have all tried to obtain information through the Office of the Commission of Information.

Ram noted, “However, he has stalled for some ridiculous reasons, including his demand that he be addressed as Justice with S.C. O.R. following his name. He has also played games with applicants, putting his own interpretation of the Access to Information Act.”

To this end, the lawyer pointed out that the effect is an Act that fails to achieve its intended goal, despite the Office receiving $40 million per year. Ram also highlighted that there has never been a single report tabled in Parliament, as required by the Act.

Consequently, the protest has been organized to demand that the Act is “operationalized as it should be” and for the legislation to be subject to review and amendment, after more than a decade. “The idea is to hold this picketing 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,” the statement explained, while adding, “There is no democracy without information and corruption thrives where there is no information.”

 

Ram’s request for information

With no reports tabled in the National Assembly and made publicly available since the Act’s inception, Ram made a request for access to official documents, pursuant to Section 16 of the Act.

Kaieteur News understands that the request by Ram, dated March 12, 2025, has received no response to date by the Commissioner of Information. It seeks copies of the annual reports on the operation of the Access to Information Act submitted to Parliament, pursuant to section 44 (1), for the years 2015 – 2023; reports from the Commissioner of Information to the Minister regarding compliance with the Access to Information Act for the years 2015 – 2023; statistical information on requests processed under the Act, including the number of requests received, granted, denied, and appealed from 2015 – 2023, along with the public authorities that provided to the Minister the reports required under the Act for the preparation of his annual report for the period 2015-2023.

Ram also asked the Commissioner to provide contact information for the email and website addresses of the Commission of Information. The Attorney-at-Law’s request also specified that where ‘exempt information’ may be included in any of the items he requested, the redacted portions be provided in accordance with Section 19(2) of the Act. He also requested to be informed of the legal basis for being denied any portion of information requested and details of his right to appeal.

Earlier this month, Ram, in his weekly column ‘Every Man, Woman and Child in Guyana Must Become Oil-Minded’, accused the Commissioner of Information of undermining rather than promoting transparency.

Ram said this was evident through the use of complex language that creates further confusion rather than clarifies issues of importance.

He urged, “A law meant to guarantee transparency has been perverted into a mechanism of secrecy. This farce must end. Parliament must immediately demand an accounting of the Commissioner’s budget and require compliance with the Act’s reporting obligations.”

Further, the attorney suggested that “surgical measures” be taken should the Commissioner’s Office continue obstructing access to information, since “government cannot claim to champion transparency while allowing this mockery to continue.”

Ramson and duties

Since 2017 there have been complaints of Ramson failing to fulfill his duties as Commissioner of Information. Kaieteur News at the time reported that according to his subject minister, First Vice President, Moses Nagamootoo, Ramson had not submitted a single report on his work since the APNU+AFC took over.

In fact, the then Prime Minister added that Ramson was yet to submit outstanding reports since his office was established in 2013.
Nagamootoo acknowledged that he is aware of calls by Guyanese for greater transparency and value for money when it comes to the office of the Commissioner of Information. He also admitted that this is one of the offices that have not functioned, yet salaries continue to be paid.

At that time, Ramson was being paid $1.5M monthly, along with other benefits and allowances.

(Citizens to stage protest today against lack of access to information in Guyana)

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• Christopher Ram, Commissioner of Information, Parliament, Ramson, reports

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