Document Type

Article

Publication Date

2011

Source Publication

77th IFLA General Conference and Assembly, 13-18 August 2011, San Juan, Puerto Rico

Abstract

The Internet and various digitization initiatives have opened up immediate access to legal materials such as statutes, bills, law reports etc. through government websites and the Legal Information Institutes. There is a dearth in the legal information that is free and openly accessible for countries in the English-speaking Caribbean even though there has been relative progress in the last ten years. A number of these countries have Freedom of Information or Access to Information legislation which requires that government must make information openly accessible to its citizens. This paper reviews developments and government efforts in providing free and accessible legal information in Belize, Jamaica and Trinidad and Tobago. It discusses and highlights observations over the last ten years, developments and trends including the role of commercial publishers in the region. It concludes with a recommendation for a collaborative initiative in the region using the Canadian Legal Information Institute model.

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