The Right to Information Day is a day for advocacy and promotion of the universal right to access, store, disseminate information, is a key component of freedom of expression, Amnesty Papua New Guinea's Yuambari Haihuie said. Photo: RNZ Pacific/ Koroi Hawkins
Transparency International Vanuatu says "squabbling" politicians are hampering citizens' rights to access official information, as the world marks the International Day for Universal Access to Information.
The organisation's executive director Willie Tokon told RNZ Pacific nations across the Pacific are deprived of their right to access information because they do not have robust avenues to hold people in power accountable.
Tokon said in Vanuatu work has been underway since 2017 to fully operationalise a department that gives citizens the right to access government documents.
However, he admits there is not enough capacity in government departments to meet the 13-day-deadline prescribed in the Right to Information Act for processing information requests.
"It hasn't been fully utilised because even though we've been working with the Public Service Commission," he said.
He said the Commissioner is supposed to appoint focal points in all government ministries to be responsible for making sure that information requested is provided to the person who makes the request.
However, that does not happen due to the political turmoil and change of government in Vanuatu.
"The chairman of the Commission was replaced and then now he's hanging in balance [due to change of government] most likely when his contract ends in November he will be replaced.
"So those are some of the things that are delaying the work of this.
"Because these politicians are playing and fighting for power the civil servants are not actually doing any work."
In New Zealand, the Official Information Act allows people to request government documentation, including correspondence.
There are hopes citizens across the Pacific will soon have better access to official documents.
Essential for democracy
Transparency International Papua New Guinea spokesperson Yuambari Haihuie said significant steps have been taken to establish a framework like New Zealand's Official Information Act in PNG.
Haihuie said it is essential for a democratic society to function.
He said the right to information day is a day for advocacy and promotion of the universal right to access, store, disseminate information, is a key component of freedom of expression.
"It's also useful for commerce and trade for anti corruption, good governance, and a whole heap of issues that are close to the heart of people across the world."
Haihuie said New Zealand is one of the leading countries within our region in terms of an access to information regime.
"In the region, we have a number of countries like Australia and Vanuatu, that have access to information either through a commission, or through the Prime Minister's offices the case in Vanuatu," he said.
"In Papua New Guinea, we do have it as a constitutional right within our national concision as a right to access public documents. And it's actually been quite progressive.
"Unfortunately, we don't have a enabling legislation that sets up procedures or processes and so what we've seen within Papua New Guinea is actually a culture of secrecy that is developed as a default because there isn't an articulated process within our laws.
"There's a natural hesitancy that develops over time within public offices to give information to citizens that requested."
But he is hopeful that the PNG government's commitments and recent legislative and legal developments in will push the country more towards being open and transparent.
