Bermuda's Parliament, which holds onto its traditions like a drowning man clinging to a piece of bamboo, should take a small step into the 20th Century with support for a Hansard and a formal question time looking likely.

That's the good news, and it is very welcome.

But Parliament could leap into the 21st Century, or at least catch up with many other Parliaments, if it agrees to open up its committees to the public as well.

The House of Assembly's Rules and Privileges Committee, which has the power to make such a recommendation, agreed to open the Education Select Committee to the public, but Government says it "is not there yet" for other committees, notably the Accounts.

So when the committee reports to the House in November, it will recommend a Hansard and a formal question time, and it will recommend against opening up committees.

It would appear that the experience of the education committee has a great deal to do with support for – and opposition to – opening up other committees.

On the one hand it has exposed the workings of the Education Ministry to the public eye and has laid bare some of the Ministry's failings.

On the other hand, it has held the feet of the Interim Education Board and various Ministers and civil servants to the fire, several of whom are no longer there.

Whether that is seen as a good thing or a disaster will shape views on whether other committees should be open. For now the Government wants to keep them closed.

That's too bad for a party that was elected to power almost 11 years ago with a promise to run the Government in the sunshine of public scrutiny.