(Jamaica Gleaner) The contentious resolutions that sought to bar members of the public from accessing Cabinet documents for 70 years was officially withdrawn from the order paper of the Senate yesterday.
“I seek the leave of the Senate to withdraw the resolution standing in my name,” said Kamina Johnson Smith, leader of government business in the Senate, who piloted the move.
The resolutions – the Access to Information (Cabinet Document) (Extension of Exemption Period) Order, 2019, and The Access to Information (Cabinet Documents) (Extension of Exemption Period) Order Resolution, 2019 – are also expected to be withdrawn in the House of Representatives next Tuesday.
The Press Association of Jamaica, the Media Association Jamaica Limited, National Integrity Action, and other civil society groups came out against the resolutions in separate statements this week and demanded that the Andrew Holness administration withdraw them.
The resolutions sought to increase the restriction on access to Cabinet documents from 20 years to 70.
