The article argues that Panama’s Transparency Law remains largely ineffective due to prolonged neglect and systemic implementation failures. Although enacted decades ago, the legislation has been ignored, leaving citizens unable to fully exercise their right to access information. This gap undermines democratic governance and erodes public trust, as the state currently falls far short of international standards for open data publication, often withholding critical details regarding budgets, infrastructure, and social security. To rectify this, the author advocates for significant legal reforms that prioritize the citizenry’s role as the true guarantors of transparency. Key proposals include reducing response times, expanding the right to information to include minors, and holding NGOs receiving public funds accountable. Furthermore, the article emphasizes the need for stricter sanctions for non-compliance and the inclusion of positive administrative silence, ensuring that requests are implicitly approved if ignored, thereby preventing bureaucratic obstruction. This discussion is vital for the open data movement because it highlights the intersection between legal frameworks and practical data availability. Without independent regulatory bodies and enforced transparency, open data initiatives remain theoretical. The article underscores that true open data requires not just technical publication, but a robust legal environment that protects citizens’ rights to scrutinize government actions, ensuring that data is accessible, updated, and utilized for social accountability.
Source:Published on 2023-08-17