Freedom of Information legislation…– media expertAccess to Information Legislation in theory is a good thing but the journalism community as well as others that would want to utilise such legislation must be wary of what the Government agrees to pass.This is according to a senior international journalist who says that in many countries the legislation approved has many ways of blocking things from really getting to people.“They exempt too much,” the media operative said.It was pointed out that one of the great pieces of legislation in the world is in Sweden where it is reversed and the government has to justify to an independent commission what it keeps secret.The journalist stated that access to information legislation in general around the world has been a disappointment to the journalism community.He stated that most governments after being in power for a long time are sometimes very reluctant to allow the public to have access to information.It was pointed out that there is need for international pressure especially from the donor countries and agencies and only in such a situation would a government be forced to implement access to information legislation.Only recently the Alliance for Change (AFC) mounted a picketing exercise outside Public Buildings primarily as a result of the delay in presenting and enacting the long-awaited Access to Information Bill as well as the Broadcast Legislation.Following several revised deadlines for the long awaited Freedom of Information legislation to be tabled in the National Assembly,Discount NFL Jerseys, it appears that interested stakeholders will have to wait a while longer.The Bill is yet to be placed before the National Assembly.Leader of the Alliance For Change,Jerseys NFL Cheap, Raphael Trotman,Cheap NBA Jerseys China, who had tabled and has since put on pause a proposed bill, recently told this newspaper that he was disappointed that the Government did not see it fit to support the Freedom of Information legislation.He had noted that his disappointment was further fuelled by the fact that the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association had held a workshop for Parliamentarians and media operatives,Soccer Jerseys China, where Freedom of Information (FOI) was extensively discussed.He conceded that legislation such as the FOI will take time, but pointed out that there was a resounding call by Guyanese, who were now beginning to understand the importance of such a piece of legislation,China Jerseys Wholesale, as well as the calls from the international organisations.Trotman emphasised that Freedom of Information is important for good governance and transparency.The essence of the Freedom of Information Act, according to the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association (CPA), is the empowerment of the populace to request any piece of information (with few exceptions,China Jerseys, such as medical records) held by a public authority.The party says that it is of the view that the apathetic and retrograde stance which the Government has adopted with regard to the enacting of Freedom of Information laws reflect an inherent control agenda which is abrasive to the AFC guiding principle of liberal democracy.