Event Summary
On 21 January 2026, Senator Marlon Morgan, Parliamentary Secretary in Jamaica’s Ministry of Education, Skills, Youth and Information, delivered the keynote address at a public forum hosted by Jamaicans for Justice (JFJ) at the Courtyard by Marriott in Kingston. The event, themed “Enhancing Transparency: Examining the Access to Information Act and Its Reform,” featured the release of JFJ’s comprehensive report on the Access to Information (ATI) Act. The report highlighted persistent non-compliance issues, with 37.8% of 111 standardized requests to public authorities receiving no response and only 30.6% completed within the 30-day statutory timeframe.
JFJ urged the establishment of a Joint Select Committee (JSC) on the ATI Act by 31 March 2026, to advance reforms and fulfill Open Government Partnership commitments. In his address, Senator Morgan emphasized the government’s ongoing review of the ATI Act, noting that the ministry was “far advanced” in considering recommendations from stakeholders, including JFJ’s report. He announced that Cabinet would determine the next steps for reform, signaling a commitment to addressing the Act’s shortcomings at a high level.
Key commitments outlined included: reviewing submissions and JFJ’s findings; providing training for ATI Responsible Officers; strengthening proactive disclosure practices; enhancing compliance mechanisms within the ATI Unit; and leveraging technology to improve implementation. These steps reflect a pledge to bolster transparency and efficiency, aligning with JFJ’s calls for better enforcement.However, Senator Morgan did not commit to specific timelines, such as JFJ’s proposed March 31 deadline for a JSC, nor did he endorse immediate legislative changes or address the unimplemented 2011 JSC recommendations. While appreciative of JFJ’s engagement, his remarks focused on internal progress rather than binding actions, leaving advocates hopeful yet cautious about swift reforms. This event underscored the need for collaborative efforts to modernize Jamaica’s ATI framework, ensuring greater public access to information and accountability.