Re: Freedom of Information event (was: Request to represent the MIU)

From: S Moonesamy <sm+mu_at_elandsys.com>
Date: Wed, 09 Sep 2015 10:58:26 -0700

Hi Omdeep,
At 10:30 09-09-2015, OMDEEP GOKHOOL wrote:
> (b) A Freedom of Information Act will definitely fit within what
> the MIU is interested in, for example on the 8th of September Mr
> Ish was looking for the MNIC act which was unavailable on their
> website[1], same for the "communiques" which you could not find on
> the government portal[2]. Having a Freedom of Information act will
> give us the right to request certain informations from public
> authorities. A second example I would like to take is the clouds of
> doubts still lingering around, about the New Identity Cards[3],
> having a FOI act will obliged public authorities to publish certain
> informations about their activities.

Although the above is true, I do not think that it is a good argument
to use the MNIC Act or the "communiques" as examples. You have
chosen the first search results instead of doing actual
research. That might be okay by "local standards". Those
"standards" are too low for this group.

> (c) As you mentioned in the mail sent to Ms Fox, the event should
> be hosted in collaboration with a media group in Mauritius.
> However the embassy enquired if the MIU can host the event at the
> University of Mauritius. I would like to know your opinion on this,
> if the university will be a suitable place as you are suggesting
> that the event should be hosted in collaboration with a local media group.

I don't think that entry-level university students will be interested
in the topic as it is too abstract. If I use the Open Data events as
a comparison, there was a very low understanding of the presentations.

> I totally agree with you that it should not be an opportunity for
> people to criticize, hence upon invitation or promotion we should
> make the objectives of this event clear to those willing to participate.

Ok.

Regards,
S. Moonesamy
Received on Wed Sep 09 2015 - 17:58:56 PST