Press Releases

ATI Essay Competition

Fifth Form student of the Immaculate Conception High School Chevonna Haughton emerged the winner of the 2017/2018 Access to Information National High School Essay Competition. Ms Haughton copped the title from among sixteen participants. 

Seven Access to Information Youth Ambassadors Inducted

Seven Youth Ambassadors were inducted in the Access to Information (ATI) Ambassadors programme. The programme which is in its pilot phase is aimed at empowering youth to play a more active role in the country’s democratic framework. 

Jamaica will join the global community in observing Right to Know Week September 25 to October 1. The week also encompasses Right to Know Day observed on September 28 each year.

RTK Day is commemorated in over 40 countries and by scores of non-governmental organizations globally, to raise awareness of members of the public’s right to access government information as a critical part of good governance and the advancement of democracy.

In an effort to build the capacity of public sector officers to respond to requests for information made pursuant to the Access to Information Act (2002), the Access to Information Unit in the Office of the Prime Minister recently trained some 33 ATI Responsible Officers from government ministries, departments and agencies. Another batch will undergo training later this year.

The Access to Information Unit, Office of the Prime Minister, will recognize the winners and other entrants in its National High School Essay Competition at an awards ceremony to take place on Tuesday, April 4, 2017 at the Knutsford Court Hotel, Ruthven Road in Kingston. Minister of State in the Ministry of Education, Youth and Information, the Hon. Floyd Green will be the guest speaker at the function.

Jamaica observes Right to Know Week 2017 from Sunday September 24 to Friday September 29, 2017. The week is being held under the theme: Access to Information—Participation for National Transformation.

The country also joins the global community in celebrating Right to Know Day on September 28.

Executive Director of the National Integrity Action, Professor Trevor Munroe, is among those confirmed for the Access to Information Public Forum to be held at the Caribbean Institute of Media and Communication (CARIMAC) Annex II, UWI, Mona on Thursday, September 29, at 5:00pm. Minister without Portfolio in the Office of the Prime Minister, the Hon. Derrick Smith will officially open the function.

The Access to Information Unit, Office of the Prime Minister on Wednesday (November 29) inducted seven youth Ambassadors to promote the message of access to information within their respective schools.

The Access to Information Youth Ambassadors are drawn from seven rural and urban high schools.

Wolmer’s Boys’ School sixth-former Oshnel Bryan is the Access to Information Unit’s 2016/2017 National High School Essay Competition winner. Oshnel won the competition from among a field of 22 entrants from 16 schools across Jamaica. Nastacia Linton of William Knibb Memorial High School earned second place while Juzel Lloyd of Wolmer’s Girls School was awarded third place. The Awards ceremony took place at the Knutsford Court Hotel in New Kingston on Tuesday April 4, 2017.

Minister of Education, Youth and Information Senator the Hon. Ruel Reid has charged the youth to use information to increase their own knowledge and marketability and to make a positive difference in the world.

“It is a fact that we exist in an information age and knowledge economy, where our success is directly related to our capacity to effectively develop our intellect and use information intelligently to not only understand the world we live in, but also to take command of it and chart a positive way forward,” Senator Reid said.

High school students across Jamaica are being encouraged to weigh in on matters related to access to information (ATI). The 2016 Access to Information Unit’s National High School Essay Competition is still open, following its launch during Right to Know Week in September 2016.

The Access to Information Act was passed in 2002 to give members of the public the right to access non-exempt documents held by public authorities.

New Book - Abby & Friends ATI Adventure

Abby and Friends ATI Adventure