ICO Bids Farewell To Commissioner Gutierrez
Bermuda’s first Information Commissioner, Gitanjali S. Gutierrez, has completed her appointment.
A spokesperson said, “On 21 February 2025, Gitanjali S. Gutierrez will complete her appointment as Bermuda’s first Information Commissioner.”
“Ms. Gutierrez was appointed by the Governor to serve as Bermuda’s first Information Commissioner on 2 March 2015 and was reappointed during a second term on 2 March 2020. During her tenure, Commissioner Gutierrez established the ICO as Bermuda’s newest good governance office and worked to ensure that the promise of the Public Access to Information Act 2010 was realised for all Bermudians and residents.
“Throughout her time as Information Commissioner, Ms. Gutierrez strove to promote and uphold the public’s right to access information, and to ensure that public authorities had the guidance and support required to successfully comply with the requirements of the PATI Act. As amendments to the rights under the PATI Act have been considered throughout the years, she remained a strong and consistent advocate for preserving the robust right to access and providing opportunities for public consultation.
“Under her leadership, the ICO has issued more than 230 decisions reviewing public authorities’ handling of PATI requests and, when required, she issued legally binding decisions ordering public disclosure of records. During her tenure, the ICO won the landmark decision in Information Commissioner v Attorney General before the Court of Appeal to secure the Information Commissioner’s authority to inspect withheld records to conduct her review. In addition to publishing guidances, Commissioner Gutierrez initiated the ICO’s Quarterly Briefings specifically for public authorities to support capacity building within entities subject to the PATI Act.
“In 2015, the ICO held its first commemoration of International Right to Know Day and has continued annually to highlight the importance of PATI rights. The ICO has initiated numerous public outreach and education campaigns, resulting more than 87% of the respondents in the 2025 public awareness survey confirming that PATI rights are important to them. The redesigned ICO website is a proud model of “transparency by design”, to inspire public authorities to proactively share their activities, decision making and spending with the public. In addition, Commissioner Gutierrez initiated the “PATI & the People’s Budget” broadcast which coincided with the government’s budget debate season over the past two years.
“Commissioner Gutierrez also ensured that Bermuda’s ICO had the opportunity to benefit from collaboration with international bodies. Bermuda’s ICO was elected as a member of the Executive Committee of the International Conference of Information Commissioners in June 2021 and reelected to a second term in June 2023. These international relationships have provided invaluable support and resources to further its work.
“Commissioner Gutierrez led the ICO though the unprecedented challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic, reminding public authorities of the importance of access to information and the preservation of public records during a time of national crisis. More recently, the ICO has responded to the impact of the September 2023 cybersecurity attack on the Bermuda Government IT systems and the ongoing impact it has had on public records, accountability and transparency.
“Ms. Gutierrez’s dedicated service and professional knowledge has contributed to the ICO’s reputation and high regard as a good governance institution. On behalf of the public and public authorities, the ICO thanks Ms. Gutierrez for her unwavering commitment to public access to information.
“Deputy Information Commissioner LaKai Dill will be Acting Information Commissioner from 22 February 2025 until the appointment of the new Information Commissioner.”
Ms Gutierrez said, “It has been an honour to serve the public of Bermuda. I am deeply proud of the strong integrity institution my colleagues and I have established in the Information Commissioner’s Office. Through our collective work, along with the efforts of stakeholders within the public and public authorities, access to public information has become a critical right that supports citizens’ voices and accountability.”
But I don’t see how or where the information received has been of benefit to anybody. You rarely hear mention or read a follow up to even the most questionable, suspicious or ah ha story. Nothing. Using hours of time which has to be paid for and the cost of her office. If I was a govt officer the frankness and openness in a closed door meeting would only record my presence and a vote in case i say that Jack is an idiot who never passed high school and it later comes out. But she was an outstanding person in that job and personable. I’m sure she will go on to bigger things.
It would have made more sense to extend her contract until a replacement is hired. Now the ICO is short a critical resource.
She challenged the PLP Government. She made the Government release documents it did not want to release and she made the Government work to justify its position. I am not at all surprised she was not asked to stay on as a caretaker.