Under the leadership of the former Prime Minister, Hon. Hubert A Ingraham, the Free National Movement (FNM) failed to enact the Freedom of Information bill (FOI) they passed in 2007 during their time in office from 2007 to 2012.

The Bahamas Press Club president Anthony Capron called for the enactment of the bill subsequently passed on FOI during a Press Conference held at The Shoal Restaurant last week.

Mr. Capron said, “We all know that the FNM administration that came in 2007 passed a freedom of information bill , but in the end failed at enactment; it never became law.”

Furthering his concerns of the FOI bill being at a standstill, Mr. Capron additionally complained, “In the 2012 through 2017, a term of a Progressive Liberal Party (PLP) administration, another FOI bill was passed, but still, there is no law.”

Now, under new leadership, the FNM administration has promised (again), to enact the FOI bill.

“This present FNM administration, under the leadership of Prime Minister Minnis, is again promising to enact Freedom of information.

“And in that regard, the Bahamas Press Club will continue in the pursuit of having the government implement the FOI.” Mr. Capron concluded.

The Bahamas Press Club’s main mission is to promote the growth and development of the media, thus keeping the public at large informed about news events.

The club is not meant to be just another group of civil society, or nonsensical advocacy gathering, but to further the aspirations of all the people who would seek to make The Bahamas a model country, where there is honesty and transparency in government and where it is easy for investors to conduct business.

As such, the enactment of the FOI is important to the Bahamas Press Club.

The FOI bill will ensure that not only the media, but the general population would have free access to information.