2004 freedominfo.org Global Survey Results - Belize
Text from the freedominfo.org Global Survey: Freedom of Information and Access to Government Records Around the World, by David Banisar (updated 12 May 2004)

The Freedom of Information Act was enacted in 1994. (1) The law provides for access to documents held by government departments except for the courts and the Office of the Governor General. The departments must respond within 14 days.

The definition of documents includes, "public contracts, grants or leases of land, or any written or printed matter, any map, plan or photograph, and any article or thing that has been so treated in relation to any sounds or visual images that those sounds or visual images are capable, with or without the aid of some other device, of being reproduced from the article or thing, and includes a copy of any such matter, map, plan, photograph, article or thing, but does not include library material maintained for reference purposes."

Documents affecting national security, defense, international relations, and Cabinet proceedings are exempt. Other exemptions can be imposed after a "test for harm" that shows that release of the documents would adversely affect trade secrets, personal privacy, confidence, privilege, operations of ministries, enforcement of the law, and the national economy.

Denials can be appealed to an Ombudsman who can force the disclosure of some documents but he cannot examine or order the disclosure of documents in the exempted categories. The losing party may appeal to the Supreme Court.

In 2000, the Political Reform Commission found that the Act was not used often. It recommended that:

Government review and amend the Freedom of Information Act with the objective of narrowing the scope of the Act's definition of documents exempted from public access. The Commission further recommends that the Act be amended to provide for the automatic release of all government documents after fifteen years have passed. (2)

The Archives Act sets a 30 years rule for the release of documents except for documents that are confidential or secret. (3)

Notes

1. Freedom of Information Act 1994, 14th May 1994 http://infolac.ucol.mx/documentos/politicas/23.pdf

2. Final Report of the Political Reform Commission, January 2000. Available at http://www.belize.gov.bz/library/political_reform/

3. Belize Archives Act. http://www.belizelaw.org/lawadmin/PDF files/cap333.pdf