Freedom Of Information
As a public authority, the Department of Commerce & Investment 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 came 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.
If you wish to submit an FOI request you can contact our FOI Information Manager or deliver your request to any member of staff for processing.
FOI Information Manager
Mrs. Lolita Bodden
Address: (Location):
- 3rd Floor, Government Administration Building, 139 Elgin Avenue, George Town, Grand Cayman
- 143 Stake Bay Road, Bodden & Bodden Building, Cayman Brac
Mailing Address:
Department of Commerce & Investment
PO Box 232 Stake Bay, Cayman Brac KY2-2101
CAYMAN ISLANDS
or
Department of Commerce & Investment
PO Box 126 George Town, Grand Cayman KY1-9000
CAYMAN ISLANDS
Telephone: (345) 948-2400
Email: foi.dci@gov.ky / lbodden@dci.gov.ky / info@dci.gov.ky
Publication Schemes
Each public authority covered by the Freedom of Information Law has a legal duty to adopt and maintain a publication scheme in accordance with s. 5 of the FOI Law. The main purpose of a publication scheme is to make information readily available without the need for specific written requests. Schemes are intended to encourage organisations to publish proactively, and develop a greater culture of openness.
The Law states that Information to be published by public authorities includes:-
- the functions of the authority, what work it does and how it sets about its tasks.
- the departments and agencies of the authority.
- the subjects handled by each department or authority, with the locations of the departments and agencies and the opening hours of all offices.
- the title and business address of the Principal Officer and other key officers within the authority.
- Classes of records held.
- Manuals, interpretations, rules, guidelines, practices or precedents.
Classes of Information
A Class of Information is a way of collecting together similar types of information. The Cayman Islands Department of Commerce & Investment has grouped its Classes of Information into broad categories (or functions) which reflect the Department of Commerce & Investment's outputs. If you are intending to make a request, the following grouping of information should give you an indication of where the information may be found.
- Function – Administration
- Function – Policy development and advice
- Function – Operational support and advice
Please check our document library and disclosure log to see if the information you would like is not already available. Monthly lists of all current Trade & Business, Liquor, Music & Dancing, SEZA, Tobacco and LCCL licenses are publised and can be found on the respective licensing sections under "Reports".
Making a Request
We want to help you find the information you are interested in.
If you want to request information from the Department of Commerce & Investment, 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.
Fees associated with a Request for Information
There is no application fee and no fee for going to a public authority and looking at a record requested by FOI. However, a requester may be required to pay copying or change of format fees. Details concerning costs and payment are contained in the FOI Regulations which are available on the FOI Unit website.
Right of Appeal & Internal Review
If you make a request under the Freedom of Information Law and are not satisfied with our response, you are entitled to an internal review. If you believe you are entitled to an internal review, please put your appeal in writing and either e-mail or post it to the Information Manager. Include your name, address, telephone number and the reference number at the top of our letter or e-mail to you. You have 30 calendar days from the date of receipt of a refusal to request an internal review. Please explain why you would like us to review our original response.
Under section 33 of the FOI Law, you may ask for an Internal Review of a response to your request:
- If you were refused access;
- If you were granted partial access to the record(s) specified in your application;
- If your request was deferred;
- If there was a refusal to amend or annotate an official document containing personal information; or
- If a fee was charged for action taken* or if you disagree with the amount of the fee charged;
- where the decision was taken by a person other than the responsible Minister, Chief Officer or Principal Officer of the public authority.
Appeal to the Information Commissioner
If you are dissatisfied with the internal review of our decision, or an internal review was not available, you can seek an appeal from the Information Commissioner by contacting the Ombudsman office as follows:
- Visit: 3rd Floor, Anderson Square, 64 Shedden Road, George Town, Grand Cayman
- Mail: PO Box 2252, Grand Cayman KY1-1107, CAYMAN ISLANDS
- Email: info@ombudsman.ky
- Call: +1 345 946 6283
- Open: Monday to Friday 8:30am to 4:30pm