ICO releases Hearing Decision 50 involving records of the Cayman Islands Airports Authority (CIAA)

In March 2015 an applicant requested access to records relating to an event dated 22 March 2015 involving two airplanes, which the Cayman Islands Airports Authority had investigated. The public authority withheld certain information under section 21(1)(b) (information concerning the commercial interests of any person or organization) of the Freedom of Information Law 2007.

During the appeal to the ICO additional records were discovered which were disclosed in redacted form under section 23(1) (personal information). The applicant confirmed he was not seeking the information exempted under section 23(1) but he did wish to pursue the occurrence report and an audio recording relating to the event, exempted under section 21(1)(b).

In this Hearing Decision, the Acting Information Commissioner, Mr. Jan Liebaers, found that the exemption in section 21(1)(b) did not apply to the responsive records because the disclosure of the information they contained would not prejudice the commercial interests of any person or organization, including the public authority.

Mr. Liebaers said: “For the most part the records contain information that has already been published in the Authority’s own press release, as well as in the Press.”

Consequently, the Acting Information Commissioner ordered the full disclosure of the two responsive records.

The public is encouraged to read the full text of Decision 50 which can be found on the ICO website at www.infocomm.ky/appeals.