BASSETERRE, St. Kitts, CMC: Parliament has given the nod to legislation regarding the unauthorized disclosure of official information.
Attorney-General Garth Wilkin, who tabled the legislation, said it focuses on preventing leaks of sensitive government information and addressing a critical issue in the civil service, namely the unauthorized disclosure of sensitive government information.
The legislation establishes clear boundaries for government employees and contractors regarding handling confidential data, ensuring that such information is not stored in personal email accounts or disclosed outside the formal freedom of information process.
“This Bill represents a pivotal step in safeguarding the integrity of our government. In frank and plain language, Madame Speaker, a culture has developed in our civil service where there is no respect for the confidentiality of sensitive government information and documents,” said Wilkin.
The government said the Unauthorized Disclosure of Official Information Bill, 2023 complements the Freedom of Information Act. While the Freedom of Information Act provides public access to non-sensitive government information, the new Bill ensures that confidential, privileged, and sensitive data is protected from unauthorized leaks.
Wilkin said that protecting sensitive government information is a standard practice locally and globally.
It aligns St. Kitts-Nevis with international best practices in safeguarding crucial state information.
The government said with the passage of the legislation, the government of the Twin Island Federation has taken a significant step forward in reinforcing the legal framework surrounding the security and integrity of official information.
“It marks a pivotal moment in the nation’s ongoing efforts to strengthen its governance structures,” the government added.
Individuals in breach of the “Unauthorised Disclosure of Official Information Act 2023” can, in some instances, be subjected to summary conviction, to a fine of EC $20,000 (One EC dollar=US$0.37 cents), or six-month imprisonment or to both; a fine not exceeding $100,000 or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding two years or to both and a fine not exceeding EC$10,000 or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding three months or to both.
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