MOPS Delivers Partially on News Five’s FOIA Request

News Five reached out to the Ministry of Public Service with a Freedom of Information request, asking for a full list of government rental spaces from June 2024 to 2025. We also wanted to know who’s collecting rent from the government, specifically, the names of all landlords with active contracts. And the ministry responded, with a list that’s nothing short of eye-opening. A total of one hundred and sixteen rental spaces across the country, complete with locations and landlord names. Interestingly, some landlords show up more than once, which raises questions about who’s really benefiting from these deals. But here’s where things get murky. When we asked for copies of the actual tenancy agreements, the ministry said no. Their reason? The Attorney General’s Ministry advised against it, claiming the contracts are exempt from public disclosure. They even referenced former Prime Minister Dean Barrow’s past comments defending that position. The ministry also argued that revealing rental costs could drive prices up, putting more pressure on the national budget.