Putting Trust in the Serviceof Government Information
In any properly functioning democracy, governments,which are mindful of keeping their pact with the people who electthem, must take seriously their responsibility to disseminateaccurate and timely information on their activities to the public,on whose behalf they govern.
The public quite readily accepts this role as part of the normalfunctioning of a government. Where there are no extremes in theexercise of political power, it is a mandate that can far tooeasily be taken for granted.
This is a fate that from time has befallen the Cayman Islands'Government Information Service (GIS), whose broad mandate to keepthe public informed about what is taking place in the variousdepartments of government is not always understood, and oftennot appreciated.
For our readers, some historical background may help in understandingthe present-day role of GIS:
The handling of government information had its genesis in theearly 1970s with Mrs. Olive Miller, the first and only GovernmentInformation Officer. Between 1976 and 1984, dissemination of governmentinformation was channeled through the privately owned, CaymanIslands News Bureau, an arrangement, which ended with the electionof a new Government Administration and the formation of GIS in1985, under the tutelage of Jim Graves, the former Editor of theNor'wester magazine.
Today, the Unit's job has become far more complex and demanding,as government grows, as the islands have developed and as thepublic develops a larger and more sophisticated appetite for information.
There is a universal tendency to suspect official informationas only part of the story or to dismiss it as government propaganda.The fact is, however, the structure of the service is such asto discourage political inference. GIS reports to the Deputy ChiefSecretary, who in turn reports to the Chief Secretary, and thento the Governor.
Given a political structure without parties, transition from oneadministration to another has largely been with major changes,thereby creating a certain stability, which has no doubt helpedin creating a steadfast and increasingly credible service.
To its credit, most objective analysts of the services providedby GIS would conclude that it has done a reasonable job, not onlyin informing the public, but also in nurturing an image of transparencyand closer understanding between government and the public. Wecite in particular, its handling of the Northward Prison Riotand prison breaks as worthy examples of the openness that theservice has engendered.
Beyond being a mere provider of information, we see GIS growingin what we would consider a 'development support communication'role - using its resources to provide the kind of informationthat helps people to make informed decisions and take sensibleactions on critical issues. Its recent Hurricane Kit, which mustcertainly be considered for an award, is such an instrument.
GIS' recent efforts at training persons in the government servicein media relations must also be commended as part of the effortat broadening and strengthening the lines of communication, whichultimately can only redound to the public good.
It is known that over time, attempts have been made by some electedmembers of ExCo to publish reports of activities in governmentfrom a "Cabinet" level but these attempts have generallyfoundered, leaving GIS as the legitimate and accepted source ofgovernment information. Other public sector departments - theHealth Services, the Police Department, Department of Tourismand the office of the Financial Secretary - do publish informationabout their activities, independent of GIS.
GIS says that successive governments have not tried to misuseit, and indeed would wish that political representatives wouldtake up more opportunities to use the service. At a time whentransparency in government has become a popular watchword, politicalhopefuls and those already in power may do well to consider suchan offer. As GIS reminds us, good open lines of communicationare important to its functioning in everyone's best interest.
To the other media, some of which are without the full and properresources for wide-scale news gathering, GIS no doubt plays acritical role as a provider of information. In the absence ofa cadre of Caymanians bent on making journalism a career, theservice must also be seen as a well-needed resource.
Private media practitioners are sometimes critical of the service,that it cannot give immediate responses to inquiries without firsthaving releases, particularly on sensitive issues, first clearedby government administration. There are those who would considerthe services role as that of a government mouthpiece, a publicrelations arm, dedicated to maintaining a shiny image of governmenteven when there are obvious flaws.
How much, and for how long GIS or any other government arm canremain credible by merely polishing the image depends of courseon how informed and critical the public is. An informed and analyticalpublic is a product of a vigilant media, which helps to set theagenda for debate in the society.
At the end of the day, it will therefore take a vigorous and investigativeprivate media to ensure that government is open and earnest aboutproviding its constituents with information about its actionson behalf of the people.
On the other hand, with just six information officers and supportstaff, this unit of government has limited resources in tryingto meet the information and a myriad of other internal and externalneeds demanded of them, from the private and public sectors inthe country and overseas.
To this end, it is fair to say that GIS's role in helping to shapemany successive governments, have just begun.