Haughton Condemns Unauthorized Disclosure of Personal Information
Kingston, Jamaica. May 22, 2024: It has come to our attention that the Minister of Technology, Daryl Vaz, publicly disclosed the personal information of Mr. Mark Golding without his consent. This disclosure pertains to Mr. Golding’s dual citizenship, which includes his status as a British citizen. This action is a clear breach of Section 61(a) of the Data Protection Act, which states: “A person shall not knowingly or recklessly, without the consent of the data controller concerned… 1. Obtain or disclose personal data or any information contained in personal data…”
This violation of Mr. Golding’s personal data rights is unacceptable and deeply worrying, This action threatens the credibility of the new National Identification System (NIDS) that the government is pushing to introduce. The act of revealing such sensitive information without authorisation not only breaches the Data Protection Act but also undermines the principles of privacy and trust that are essential to our democratic society, especially since Jamaica must embrace the digital economy to enhance its productivity pursuits.
Minister Vaz’s defence, claiming the information was obtained from a member of the PNP, does not absolve him of responsibility. The onus remains on the Ministry to uphold the law and protect personal data, regardless of the source. The defence put forward by the Minister responsible for Information, Dr The Honourable Senator Dana Morris Dixon, fails to address the core issue of unauthorised disclosure and the subsequent breach of Mr. Golding’s rights.
As the Shadow Minister for Science, Technology, Innovation, and Entrepreneurship, I call for immediate accountability and transparency. It is imperative that those responsible for this breach be held accountable and steps taken to ensure such violations do not occur in the future. The protection of personal data is a critical aspect of our legislative framework, and any deviation from this must be addressed with the utmost seriousness.
Furthermore, I urge the relevant authorities to conduct a thorough investigation into this matter and take the necessary actions against those who have breached the Data Protection Act. The integrity of our privacy laws must be maintained, and the rights of individuals must be safeguarded.
The People’s National Party remains committed to upholding the highest standards of privacy and data protection. We will continue to advocate for stronger enforcement of these laws to protect the personal information of all Jamaicans.
