No access to information Media unable to report on financial declarations filed by parliamentarians
Published:Sunday | November 14, 2010 | 12:00 AM
Tyrone Reid, Sunday Gleaner Reporter
WHILE the media in Jamaica are barred from reporting on the financial declarations filed by parliamentarians under the ambit of the Parliament (Integrity of Members) Act, their counterparts in the United States have open access to the information by their elected officials.
The legislation requiring the filing of the financial declarations basically guarantees the secrecy of the information provided by local politicians.
But in the US, South Africa, Russia and a host of other countries, the public has a right to know.
In March 2009, the Washington Post was able to report that US President Barack Obama earned nearly US$2.5 million in royalties from the sale of his books in 2008.
The information was made public after the president's lawyer filed disclosure forms with the Secretary of the Senate.
The Washington Post report also noted that Obama added US$250,000 more just before taking office because he signed a January 15th licensing deal with his publisher for an abridged version of Dreams From My Father that is "suitable for middle grade or young adult readers".
The sum was an advance against royalties, the report noted.
In October of that same year, CNN reported that Sarah Palin was paid at least US$1.25 million for her book deal with publisher Harper Collins.
Again, the information was gleaned from filed financial disclosure forms.
According to CNN, Palin's financial disclosure forms also revealed that the former Republican vice-presidential candidate took out a Wells Fargo home loan to pay for legal fees to fight allegations while she was governor of Alaska.
Palin, CNN stated, also listed several gifts she received while she was governor, including US$4,250 worth of Yankees tickets from former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani.
Other US candidates, politicians and state officials are required by law to file personal financial disclosure forms that list their income, assets and liabilities.
An international body, known as The Right to Information: Good Law and Practice, promoting the right to information noted on its website - right2info.org - that "the principal goal of income and asset disclosure systems is to combat corruption".
It also pointed out that in a growing number of cases, information published in asset declarations has led to the exposure of substantial, unjust enrichment.
"Several countries with detailed disclosure requirements, such as Latvia, have experienced a decline in corruption.
"Among other benefits, asset disclosure programmes enhance the legitimacy of government in the eyes of the public and stimulate foreign direct investment," the report said.