Gitanjali Gutierrez completed her appointment today after a decade of service
After ten years at the helm, Gitanjali Gutierrez has concluded her tenure as Bermuda’s first Information Commissioner.
Her mission was to strengthen public access to information and government transparency.
Appointed in 2015, Commissioner Gutierrez established the Information Commissioner’s Office as an institution for good governance, helping to ensure that the rights under the Public Access to Information Act – known as the PATI Act – were upheld.
During her tenure, the ICO issued more than 230 decisions reviewing public authorities’ handling of PATI requests. When necessary, she issued legally binding orders for the disclosure of records.
A press release cites one of her most notable achievements as securing the ICO’s authority to inspect withheld records, reinforcing the right to information.
She also led public education efforts, including the “PATI & the People’s Budget” broadcast, which coincided with the government’s budget debate over the past two years.
Her office was heavily involved at times of crisis, from the COVID-19 pandemic to the 2023 cybersecurity attack on government IT systems, emphasizing the importance of access to information and the preservation of public records in the face of unprecedented challenges.
Ms. Gutierrez reflected on her time in office, saying: “It has been an honour to serve the public of Bermuda. I am deeply proud of the strong integrity institution my colleagues and I have established in the Information Commissioner’s Office. Through our collective work, along with the efforts of stakeholders within the public and public authorities, access to public information has become a critical right that supports citizens’ voices and accountability.”
As she steps down, Deputy Commissioner LaKai Dill will serve as Acting Information Commissioner until a new permanent appointment is made.
The position was advertised in October 2024, but it remains unclear where the appointment process currently stands.
