Mather Urges Swift Freedom of Information
At-Large Representative Stacy “Budda” Mather has urged the government to quickly enact a Freedom of Information (FOI) law, saying the measure is recommended in the constitutional review and is needed for transparency and accountability. Speaking in the House of Assembly, Mather warned he does not intend to be a “veteran politician” and wants the law implemented during his tenure rather than decades from now.
At-Large Representative Stacy “Budda” Mather has called on the government to move swiftly to legislate a Freedom of Information (FOI) law, saying the territory can and should act without delay to improve transparency. Speaking in the House of Assembly, Mather pointed to recommendations in the Constitutional Review Commission’s report that urged specific freedom-of-information provisions, including amending the Constitution to enshrine a right of access to information held by public authorities. "This recommendation — I hope it doesn’t show up again in 2047 [or] 2040, because I won’t be like Honourable Fraser and Honourable Skelton," he said, adding: "I won’t be around.
This is something that’s legislative and within this document, several things are legislative. We can fix this." Mather’s comments reflect growing frustration among media, civil society and residents who argue access to government-held information in the British Virgin Islands remains limited and inconsistent.
He used the analogy of a "speed bump" to describe how information is often released informally and sporadically rather than through clear, rights-based mechanisms: "The media out there screaming for it. We’re in a country where information is now referred to as something by the speed bump that gets dropped.
You can’t just go and get it, you have to hide in the shadows and throw it out. All our people keep saying is they want it." Local media and editorial commentary have repeatedly noted that without FOI legislation many government contracts, procurement details and public expenditure records remain inaccessible.
That opacity, critics say, leaves the Territory behind several regional counterparts that already have FOI laws and hinders public scrutiny of decision-making and spending. Mather framed FOI as a practical legislative reform that would improve accountability and public trust. He urged colleagues and the government to treat the recommendation as actionable and timely, rather than a long-term item to be deferred.
As calls for FOI legislation gain momentum, residents and watchdog groups will be watching how the government responds — whether it will set a legislative timetable, consider constitutional amendment, and design exemptions and appeals processes that balance transparency with legitimate privacy and security concerns.
Primary source: BVI News