Información pública es engavetada
Información pública es engavetada
The article concludes that Panama’s current administration systematically denies, delays, or ignores public information requests, thereby undermining transparency and democratic accountability. This pattern affects multiple institutions, including the National Assembly, the National Railway Secretariat, and the Comptroller General, revealing a persistent failure to uphold legal obligations under the Transparency Law. A central issue is the weakness of the National Authority for Transparency and Access to Information (ANTAI), which functions more as a mediator than as an enforcer. By frequently declaring cases devoid of substance and issuing weak exhortations, ANTAI fails to impose effective sanctions on entities that withhold information or respond with irrelevant data, leaving citizens with limited recourse. Furthermore, the use of “security” or “sensitivity” as a blanket justification to withhold data—such as details on arms purchases—raises serious concerns about arbitrary restrictions. This is relevant to open data because it highlights the gap between legal frameworks and practice; without strong enforcement and a genuine commitment from state bodies, open data principles remain theoretical, preventing citizens from effectively monitoring public spending and preventing corruption.
Source: laestrella.com.paPublished on 2025-09-05