FURTHERING THE PLEDGE OF ACCOUNTABILITY – Keeping the pledge made prior to his re-election to office, Prime Minister, the Rt. Hon. Hubert Ingraham held the first for 2008 of what is expected to be quarterly Meet the Press conferences. The Meet the Press event was held at the Victoria Room of the British Colonial Hilton on Sunday, February 3, 2008.
Leading by example, Prime Minister Ingraham said he implemented the quarterly sessions to help to encourage others in the public sector to be more open and forthcoming in dealing with the press.
Journalists in New Providence took full advantage of the press event, asking questions of the Prime Minister on topics ranging from crime to the economy to contemporary social events.
Mr. Ingraham expressed his expectation that during this term in office, his government would have helped to create a "cultural shift and change in the mindset of the public sector of The Bahamas, to be more forthcoming with what is essentially public business." His comments came in response to a question on when the government plans to enact a Freedom of Information Act.
The Prime Minister pointed out that the former Free National Movement administration drafted a Freedom of Information Bill. He affirmed that the government will deliver on its pledge to enact this piece of legislation during its current term in office.
