Open Data Needed in Barbados
Now that the Integrity Commission Bill has been laid, Integrity Group Barbados would expect the bill’s additional readings, passage and proclamation is in the near future. National attention can now be place on additional pieces of legislation that will enhance Barbados’ national integrity system. Enhancing this system requires in-part that citizen’s and the media have seamless access to government information. Access to information has long been recognised as a fundamental component of good governance and the fight against corruption, since corruption flourishes in the absence of visibility. Therefore, legislation such as freedom of information acts can increase transparency in governmental activities to ensure accountability. As it stands, many of government’s operations are shrouded in secrecy which encourages and conceal wrong-doings. Therefore, easy and adequate access to information will break the culture of secrecy and can facilitate punitive and corrective measures in the event of wrong-doings.
What is open data
One method that can provide such seamless and adequate information is the use of open data policy. Open data is digital data that are accessible, with the technical and legal requirements necessary for it to be freely used, reused, and redistributed by anyone, anytime and anywhere. This digital data can include government records and information, public contracts, policy papers, detailed financial statements, communication correspondence, and so on. The principle behind this approach is that all government data that do not contain confidential personal information, threaten national security or allow for anti-competitive business behavior should be made public.
Typically, the release of public records relies on reactive disclosure where public information must be requested before it is shared. However, open data takes a proactive approach where public data is released as it is collected and before it is requested. One advantage of this approach is that fees, lengthy delay processes and special access requirements cannot be used as obstacles to inhibit citizens and the media from easily obtaining government information. With various government departments managing data with different purposes and descriptions, open data policies are reliable and effective for the administration and dissemination of information. This information can be provided on open data portals which are web-based platforms designed to allow easy access to information through a centralized location.
Open data and the media
Also noteworthy is the critical role of media in Barbados’ efforts against corruption. The media raises public awareness about, and instances of wrong-doings that can lead to punitive actions and discourage such practices. If public figures know that wrong-doing can be exposed by the press, they are likely to be more circumspect in their conducts. However, the ability of the media to perform this valuable role is often prohibited by restrictive government information sharing policies. Open data policy removes many of these restrictions while protecting the media from litigation and victimization as governments cannot determine how the information is to be used.
Barbados lagging behind
Some Caribbean territories have begun to embrace and use open data government policies. For example, St Lucia’s adopted an open data policy in November 2017, and recently launched its online data repository as part of the World Bank Open Data Caribbean initiative. Trinidad and Tobago has also formulated an open government action plan due to their membership with the Open Government Partnership. This is a multilateral initiative that aims to secure concrete commitments from governments to promote transparency, empower citizens, fight corruption, and harness new technologies to strengthen governance.
Barbados therefore should follow suit by pursuing the necessary legislative and administrative changes and permit the usage of technology that would make open data policy a success. This initiative should be conducted in accordance with public disclosure laws like freedom of information acts. These laws should also be accompanied and reinforced by complementary legislation since transparency does not necessarily lead to accountability. Barbadians have seen numerous instances where authorised disclosed information like the Auditor General’s report, that highlighted gross mismanagement and potential corruption, failed to hold authorities to account. Therefore, average citizens and civil society ought to pressure government to introduce freedom of information and open data policy to improve our national integrity system.