1 October 2019
St Helena Government’s Code of Practice for Public Access to SHG Information has been in place since September 2014 and offers a central point of enquiry for the public to request information from SHG that is not already available by other means.
The system continues to work well and from the period 1 June 2017 – 1 June 2019 a total of 26 requests for information have been received. Requests received included the following subject matters:
St Helenian Status, Importation of water statistics, Safeguarding reports, SHG staffing, St Helena Coins, Road Traffic accident statistics, Schools examination results, SA Airlink matters, Employment on St Helena, High Knoll Fort Project, Health Statistics, Police Force Standing Orders, Sure South Atlantic Limited telecommunications contract, High Knoll Fort Project, Coffee Producers and SHG’s policy on advertising with local media outlets.
Of the 26 requests received, information was provided in respect of 20 requests, two requests are still being dealt with and four requests were refused for the following reasons as set out in the Code:
- Would take a disproportionate of staff time to answer
- Could be likely to allow individuals to be identified, where there is a legitimate and reasonable expectation that their identity should remain confidential
- Was already available in the public domain
- The information was provided to SHG in confidence
23 requests were responded to within a period of 20 working days.
The Code draws on access to information policies and legislation in the UK (e.g. FOI) and other island states. It applies to all information held with proprietary rights by SHG, regardless of who produced or supplied the information and is subject to the Exceptions listed in the Code. The Code requires all SHG employees dealing with requests to ensure that any request received from the public for information and made under the Code of Practice for Public Access to SHG Information, is dealt with in compliance with the Code.
All requests for SHG information made under the Code of Practice, should be sent, in writing, directly to the Information and Research Support Officer SHG, at the Castle, or by e-mail to: information.request@sainthelena.gov.sh
The Code of Practice and information which has so far been made available under the Code can be viewed at: https://www.sainthelena.gov.sh/public-access-to-information/
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SHG
1 October 2019