The importance of maintaining protection for journalists and their sources appears to have been enshrined within PACE.

But the wording is not as clear as it could be for Opposition House Leader and Mid-Ocean News columnist John Barritt who sought clarification during the House of Assembly debate on the PACE Bill on Monday. As way of reply the recent case of New York Times reporter Judith Miller, jailed because she would not testify before a federal grand jury in a case involving leaked US Government information about the war in Iraq, was cited as the type of protection Bermuda seeks to afford its journalists.

Mr. Barritt had noted that there appeared to be levels of legal protection for a specific range of documents including "journalistic material" in the more than 100 pages of the Bill.

He said: "I notice the introduction of something known as 'journalistic material' and it seems to me that there is going to be some sort of granting of protection to journalistic material and I suppose that is to protect the Press if there is a search warrant on the Press. But I'm not sure. I would like an explanation about that."

He raised the subject three times in quick succession and was finally answered by Telecommunications Minister Michael Scott who said: "You remember the debate that was going on in Washington and the lady journalist Mrs. Miller who was in prison for protecting her sources of confidentiality?

"Well this is the same thing. We are seeking to ensure that journalists like the Honourable Member in his former life, oh, I gather you do still doodle a bit, do not have their confidential sources, any information or data, any facts gathered in the pursuit of their profession as a journalist, confiscated and then used as evidence.

"Because that completely rides a cart and horse through the protection of journalists' confidentiality and protection of their sources. Journalistic material must be protected and should be protected in a civilised society."

Acting speaker Nelson Bascome gave further reassurance to Mr. Barritt when he added: "You should not be worried about your column being seized."