SECTOR 1 Journalists have a stock answer when questioned about confidential documents that they have accessed: ‘the document was received through the post.’ Scores: Individual scores: 1 Country does not meet indicator 2 Country meets only a few aspects of indicator 3 Country meets some aspects of indicator 4 Country meets most aspects of indicator 5 Country meets all aspects of the indicator Average score: 2.6 (2008 = 1.8) 1.8 Public information is easily guaranteed by law, to all citizens. accessible, Discussions around enacting a Freedom of Information Act have been taking place for over a decade now, but nothing has come of this talk. At one point, the Prime Minister was keen on introducing media legislation and was advised that a freedom of information act would also have to be introduced. This discussion has been abandoned since. In the absence of a Freedom of Information Act, there is nothing that compels government departments from distributing information to the media or the public. In fact obtaining public information seems to be considered a privilege and not a right. This thinking is exacerbated by the restriction on civil servants to provide information without authorisation. This tendency to suppress information extends to parliamentary proceedings. When questions are posed in Parliament - specifically to the Prime Minister there is often the uninformative response of: “the information is being compiled and will be available in the library of the National Assembly.” This information never seems to find its way to the library. Furthermore, requests for information, even within the National Assembly, are sometimes responded to with arrogance. For example, an opposition Member of Parliament once directed general questions to the Prime Minister regarding state visits to other countries. The Prime Minister responded by insulting the MP, and without providing the requested information. Instead, he pointed out that if AFRICAN MEDIA BAROMETER MAURITIUS 2010 17