THE Access to Information Amendment Bill and the accompanying regulations was finally passed in the Senate yesterday, following several weeks of debate on aspects of concern raised by Opposition senators.

In the end, the modified Bill was passed unanimously. The Act, which is aimed at bringing greater transparency to Government by giving the public access to official documents, was passed last year. However, It was brought before the Upper House again for an amendment to allow for its phased implementation in select state bodies including:

* the ministries of Finance and Planning; Local Government, Community Development and Sport;

* the Cabinet Office; National Works Agency; Planning Institute of Jamaica (PIOJ) and the Jamaica Information Service.

Opposition members had, in the past, expressed concern over the phased application of the Act, arguing that it should be applied to all government entities.

However, yesterday both sides agreed on an 18-month time-frame for its full implementation. This is down from the 24 months originally proposed for the implementation of the legislation from the time the Act "is brought into operation".

Last week the debate was suspended because of the Opposition's insistence that their interpretation of the amendment was that the public would only have access to documents in the seven government entities approved. However, the Government had argued that the amendment was designed to offer legal protection to documents in state control.

The amendment applies to section five of the principal Act and relates to:

* all public authorities;

* official documents created by or held by a public authority not earlier than 30 years immediately preceding the appointed day; and

* applies to such government companies as defined, or any other body or organisation which provides services of a public nature which is essential to the welfare of the Jamaican society.

The Senate also approved the Airports (Economic Regulation) Act 2002 regarding licensing regulations and the Airports (Economic Regulation) Act 2002 regarding the expansion fund for the Norman Manley International Airport.

The legislation is supportive of the privatisation policy of the government with regard to international airports, as well as a US$127.1 million capital development programme by the Airports Authority of Jamaica (AAJ) for the Norman Manley International Airport aimed at terminal expansion and upgrading, airside development, general infrastructural development and major maintenance.

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