FOI - Public Works Department
Freedom of Information
What is Freedom of Information
As a public authority, the Public Works Department is committed to openness, transparency and serving the public interest in compliance with the Freedom of Information Law, 2007.
The Freedom of Information (FOI) Law was passed on 19th October 2007 and comes into effect in January 2009. It gives the public a right of access to all types of records held by public authorities, but also sets out some exemptions from that right.
How to Make a Request
We want to help you find the information you are interested in.
If you want to request information from the Public Works Department, you should initially look at the document library and the disclosure log to see if the information you seek has already been published.
If you wish to make a request for information then you should contact the Information Manager or submit a request on-line at the FOI Unit website.
Requests must be in writing (letter, email or facsimile) and must include your name and an address (either postal or e-mail). Please be as specific as possible about the information you would like, as this will help us to respond promptly. Where possible, please include a contact telephone number so we can call to discuss your request if necessary.
We will respond to your request promptly. The Law requires public authorities to respond within 30 calendar days, allowing an extension of an additional 30 calendar days if needed. We will always acknowledge receipt of FOI requests made to the Information Manager and we will let you know if we need to extend the deadline. For detailed advice on what sorts of information is exempt please see the FOI Unit website.
What to Expect
When an FOI request is received by a public authority, the Information Manager will have 10 days to acknowledge receipt and 30 days to provide a response. While this timeframe may be extended to 60 days if there is reasonable cause, you will be informed of the extension before the initial deadline has passed. If your request is unclear or does not include enough information to identify the records you are seeking, the Information Manager will consult you and assist in identifying records that may be relevant to your application.
The FOI Law excludes from its scope certain public functions or records - including the judicial functions of a Court, strategic or operational intelligence-gathering activities of the security or intelligence services, and private holdings of the National Archive - and does not override other legislation that restricts access to records.
The general right of access in the FOI Law is also subject to limited exemptions which balance the right of access against the public interest in not disclosing information that would prejudice governmental or commercial interests or constitute an unreasonable disclosure of personal information of a third party. In limited instances, there may be procedural reasons why an FOI request is not granted, e.g. compliance with the request would amount to an unreasonable diversion of resources and the Information Manager is unable to sufficiently narrow the scope following consultation with the applicant.
If you have made an FOI request and do not receive everything you have asked for, you are entitled to a written response that explains the reasons for that decision. You will also have the right to appeal that decision if you are not satisfied. In the first instance, this is usually by way of internal review by the Chief Officer or Head of Department for the public authority.
The Ombudsman
The Ombudsman is the independent oversight body for FOI in the Cayman Islands. Among other duties, the quasi-gudicial Office of the Ombudsman promotes general awareness of the FOI Law, handles complaints and appeals, monitors and reports on compliance, and makes general or specific recommendations for reform.
You can learn more about FOI and the Ombudsman's role at ombudsman.ky/foi.
The Information Rights Unit
The Information Rights Unit within the Cabinet Office coordinates support for Information Managers and other public servants, providing training and guidance in relation to FOI and Data Protection. The team also promotes best practice within public authorities and develops policies, tools and procedures for effective implementation of information rights legislation.
If you are a public servant and want to learn more about your responsibilities under the FOI Law, please email InformationRights@gov.ky.
If you would like to make a request for documentation from the PWD or file an appeal, please reach out to our information managers.
