Freedom of Information Act (2021 Revision)
Summary
Legislation providing a public right of access to information held by public authorities, subject to specific exemptions for regulatory, security, and commercial reasons.
Sources
Freedom_of_Information_Act_(2021_Revision).pdf
Last Updated
2026-04-27
The Freedom of Information (FOI) Act promotes transparency and accountability in the Cayman Islands government by allowing individuals to request records held by public authorities.
Key Provisions
- Right of Access: Every person has a right to obtain access to a record unless it is an "exempt record."
- Public Authorities: Includes ministries, portfolios, statutory bodies (like cima), and government-owned companies.
- The Ombudsman: Acts as the independent oversight body that hears appeals against refusals to provide information and monitors compliance.
- Timelines: Authorities must respond to requests as soon as practicable, generally within 30 calendar days.
Exemptions Relevant to Regulation
Information may be withheld if its disclosure would:
- Violate Secrecy Laws: Specifically, Section 3(1)(c) notes that the Act does not allow access to records containing information that cannot be disclosed under Section 50 of the monetary-authority-act-2020.
- Prejudice Law Enforcement: Records relating to the conduct of an investigation or revealing lawful methods for preventing or detecting breaches of the law.
- Harm Commercial Interests: Trade secrets or information with significant commercial value.
- Breach Privilege: Records subject to legal professional privilege.