CABINET SUBMISSIONS and agenda, and even minutes of meetings of the Jamaica's Executive Council dating back to 1962, were yesterday handed over to the Jamaica Archives and Records office, yesterday.
During a ceremony at Jamaica House in Kingston, some 154 files, stacked in boxes, were handed over to Chief Justice Lensley Wolfe, the Keeper of the Records.
Speaking at the ceremony, Information Minister Colin Campbell said the files were very important. "I am very happy this is being done because there is so much information which will become available (to the public)," he said.
The Information Minister said the files included Cabinet submissions, agendas and notes compiled between 1962 and 1972. He also said the documents included minutes of Jamaica's Executive Council taken between 1949 and Independence.
Making his contribution, Mr. Wolfe said the handing over of the Cabinet documents "was of great significance in the life of the nation," in that it represented the preservation of very important records connected to Jamaica's heritage and the documents will facilitate greater access to information.
For his part, Prime Minister P.J. Patterson commented on the importance of continuity of records and knowledge to be preserved in government. "I do regard this as a very, very important occasion. It is going to be, I hope, a source of scholarship.
"This is a great day and for me a signal privilege and honour to hand over to the learned Chief Justice these papers which have been entrusted to the Jamaica Archives."
The handing over of the Cabinet documents was made possible by last month's passing of the Access to Information Bill, which will allow the public to view certain Government documents over a period of time.
