ICO Awards Breakfast For Information Officers
The Information Commissioner’s Office held an Awards Breakfast for Information Officers.
A spokesperson said, “The Information Commissioner’s Office recently hosted an ‘Awards Breakfast for Information Officers’ to recognise International Day for Universal Access to Information and in celebration of ten years of public access to information [PATI] in Bermuda. Five information officers and two public authorities received Information Commissioner’s Awards from the Information Commissioner, Jason Outerbridge.
Head of Public Service Ms. Cherie-lynn Whitter, Recipient of Information Commissioner’s Vanguard Award Constable Ronald Taylor, Information Commissioner Jason Outerbridge and Senior Investigation Officer Caitlin Conyers
“Awardees were recognised from among more than one hundred and twenty information officers across two hundred public authorities, honoured for their outstanding service and commitment to excellence in delivering public access to information. They each have made a significant impact on the PATI regime in Bermuda over the past ten years.
“The awardees were:
- Constable Ronald Taylor, Bermuda Police Service – recipient of the Information Commissioner’s Vanguard Award
- Denyelle Dublin-Swan, Bermuda Fire & Rescue Services
- Lakilah Spencer, Bermuda Hospitals Board
- Sharmette Pond, Customs Department
- Andrea Luber, Ministry of Health Headquarters
- The Corporation of Hamilton
- The PATI/PIPA Unit of the Cabinet Office
Information Officers who attended the Awards Breakfast
“The Head of Public Service, Ms. Cherie-lynn Whitter co-presented the awards. She offered congratulations to the awardees on behalf of the Government of Bermuda and thanked all information officers for their invaluable contribution to the success of PATI. In addition, a commemorative pin was presented to each information officer in attendance.”
Commissioner Outerbridge noted, “Information officers are the frontline of PATI. This has not always been an easy experience for some information officers, especially those who try to get it right as they manage their day-to-day responsibilities while also processing PATI requests. Information officers are unsung heroes of the public service because they have taken on this tremendous statutory role without any additional compensation.
“Their collective labour has helped shift the culture from one of secrecy to one where transparency and openness are expected from public authorities. My team and I thank everyone who joined us for the celebration of these officers and public authorities, and we thank all information officers for their continued dedication and commitment to PATI into the future.”
Kudos to Andrea Luber; she did the job that her predecessors could not.