FREEDOM OF INFORMATION (FOI)

Introduction to FOI

All Government authorities, companies and departments including the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) should be committed to openness, accessibility and compliance with the Freedom of Information Law, 2007.  The objectives of the law are to promote accountability, transparency and encourage public participation in the decision making processes of Government.

For further information relating to Freedom of Information at the ICO, or to request information, please contact.

How to make a Request for Information

The process for accessing information under the FOI Law is easy!  Detailed instructions are on the Cayman Islands Government FOI Unit’s website, which you can find by visiting www.FOI.gov.ky

1. Put your request in writing

   Put your request in writing (letter, fax, or email) to the Information Manager at the Public Authority you believe has the records you seek. If you wish, you may use the FOI Request Form The full list of Public Authorities, Information Managers and their contact information is located here.

2. Provide enough details to identify the records you seek

   Make sure you provide enough detail to allow the Information Manager to identify and locate the records you seek. While you do not have to tell anyone why you are making the request, sometimes providing more information will help the Information Manager answer your request more fully.

3. The Information Manager of the Public Authority will assist you if you need help filing your request.

   If you are not sure what to ask for, contact the Information Manager at the Public Authority for assistance or check to see if their Publication Scheme is available on paper or on their website which shows what types of records they hold.

4. Remember, you can only ask for “records”

   Make sure what you ask for is a record, which includes correspondence, emails, faxes, maps, plans, drawings, photographs, discs, tapes, sound tracks, film, microfilm or other media in which information is stored. If, for example, your request starts with:

   • “Explain to me why…”
   • “Prove to me that….”
   • “Show why the Public Authority did…”

   …it probably is not a request for records; it is a request for answers.  Under the FOI Law, a Public Authority must only respond to requests for records.  It does not mean that your questions are not important, but that your rights under the FOI Law, including the right to a response, are enforceable only as they pertain to records.

5. The Public Authority may charge a fee for responding to your request

   You may be charged a fee, but you can request that the fee be waived if you are unable to pay or for any other good reason. Once you have paid your fee, the Public Authority must disclose the records you requested within 14 days.

6. The FOI Law requires the Public Authority to respond to your request in 30 days

   You can expect a response to your records request within 30 days, or in 60 days, if the Public Authority has taken a 30-day extension because it reasonably requires more time to respond. You should be advised in writing if the Public Authority needs to take a time extension.

7. The Public Authority may refuse access to some or all of the records

   Under the FOI Law, a Public Authority is entitled to withhold certain information in certain circumstances. In those circumstances, you must be told the reasons why and the legal authority for doing so (ie. what exemption under the Law is being applied).

8. You may appeal the matter if you are unhappy with the response you receive from the Public Authority

   If you are denied access, do not receive a response or believe the Public Authority has mishandled your response you may file an appeal. Please refer to our Appeals Form

FOI Information Request Form

• FOI Request Form

ICO Request Disclosure Log

• ICO Request Disclosure Log (Updated 6 January 2012)

Cost to make an FOI request

There shall be no fee for inspection of an FOI record within a Public Authority.  However, a requestor may be required to pay reproduction and disbursement costs.  Details concerning costs and payment are contained in the FOI Regulations.

Classes of Information held by the ICO

A class of information is a way of collecting together similar types of information. The Information Commissioner’s Office holds records in two broad categories; Operational Records and Administrative Records . Below we have listed the functions, activities and record series’ from our file plan. If you are intending to make a request, the following classes of information will help you explain more precisely which records you are seeking, or where the information may be found.

Publication Scheme

The ICO, in accordance with the FOI Law, publishes a publication scheme which outlines who we are, what we do and what type of information we hold. It is intended to help the public identify the type of records it would like to access.

The publication schemes for the Cayman Islands government are published on an annual basis each January in the Cayman Islands Gazette. While the schemes themselves are only formally updated once a year, all the information contained in the scheme is listed on this website. Updates to the website are made frequently to ensure that the information is current and relevant. The document library section of this website, lists and links you to various policies, manuals, administrative papers and operational procedures.

You can download a copy of our publication scheme below.

• 2012 ICO Publication Scheme

 You can download the whole-of-government 2012 Publication Scheme here:

• 2012 Government Publication Scheme