Op-ed: Small states, big principles – advancing the right to information

By Éric Falt, UNESCO Representative and Regional Director, UNESCO Regional Office for the Caribbean

Each year on 28 September, the global community marks the International Day for Universal Access to Information. This is not a symbolic date. It is a powerful reminder that democracy demands daylight and that citizens have a right to know how decisions are made, how public money is spent, and how those in power are held to account.

Nowhere is this principle more vital, or more promising, than in the Caribbean. The small states of the region, often overlooked on the global stage, have consistently punched above their weight when it comes to defending democratic ideals.

From Jamaica’s early adoption of universal adult suffrage in 1944 to the steadfast commitment across the region to peaceful transfers of power and constitutional governance, Caribbean states have long shown that democratic leadership is not a function of size, but of will.

The right to access public information is the next frontier in that tradition, and one that urgently demands attention.

Trinidad and Tobago led the way by passing a Freedom of Information Act in 1999 that came fully into effect by 2001. Jamaica followed with its Access to Information Act in 2002, making it one of the earlier adopters in CARICOM. The Cayman Islands Freedom of Information law became operational in January 2009 and has been highly ranked in the international comparisons.

These are not mere bureaucratic reforms. They are foundational shifts that allow citizens to demand clarity, expose inefficiency, and participate meaningfully in governance.

But laws on paper are only part of the story. Implementation across the region remains uneven. In too many cases, public authorities lack the training, resources, or political will to respond to information requests within mandated timeframes. Appeals mechanisms are slow or inaccessible. And public awareness of these rights remains low. In some Caribbean countries, ATI (access to information) laws are still absent entirely, leaving citizens in the dark and critical public records beyond reach.

This is not a trivial gap. Access to information is not just a legal nicety; it is a driver of development, equity, and accountability. It empowers a parent to understand how a school’s budget is allocated. It allows an investigative journalist to expose procurement irregularities. It enables an environmental activist to track government permits for large-scale projects that impact fragile ecosystems. And it gives a young entrepreneur a fighting chance to access data on government tenders, grants, and investment incentives.

The evidence is clear: when citizens can access information, trust in institutions improves. Corruption decreases. Public services perform better. The state becomes a servant, not a gatekeeper.

Globally, access to information is recognized as a cornerstone of sustainable development. Target 16.10 of the UN Sustainable Development Goals calls on all states to “ensure public access to information and protect fundamental freedoms.” Caribbean states have committed to this target, but commitment must be matched with action.

To support this effort, UNESCO has developed a Model Law on Access to Information for Small Island Developing States (SIDS). This framework is tailored to the unique realities of small administrations. It reduces the legislative burden by offering language aligned with international best practice, while remaining realistic for countries with limited staff and budgets. It is not an abstract tool but a practical roadmap that can fast-track reform without reinventing the wheel.

Access to information is also a factor in global transparency and anti-corruption rankings. These scores affect everything from foreign direct investment to development assistance to international credit ratings. In a region that must compete globally and diversify economically, strengthening ATI frameworks is not just good governance. It is good economics.

Take the Cayman Islands, for example. Its Office of the Ombudsman, which has responsibility for ATI matters, regularly publishes data on compliance, appeal decisions, and public authority performance. This level of transparency has helped bolster investor confidence and has become a hallmark of institutional maturity. On the other hand, in states where ATI legislation is missing or dormant, public frustration grows, and cynicism follows.

The time for hesitancy has passed. Caribbean governments should no longer view access to information as a bureaucratic burden. It is a strategic asset. Strengthening ATI frameworks builds more resilient, inclusive, and competitive democracies. It is a lever for citizen empowerment, institutional trust, and regional credibility.

On this International Day for Universal Access to Information, Caribbean states should act decisively. Where laws exist, strengthen implementation, allocate resources, and promote public awareness. Where laws do not exist, adopt them. The tools are ready, the models are tested, and the global benchmarks are clear.

The Caribbean has long demonstrated that small states can stand tall on the world stage by defending big principles. It is time to do so again, by making the right to know a lived reality for all.