Veteran race activist Eva Hodgson has spoken out in support of public access to information and believes Government will pass a law "in its own time".

The founder of the National Association of Reconciliation told The Royal Gazette that such legislation was a "very good idea" but warned "enemies" of Premier Ewart Brown that calling for it to be in today's Throne Speech may not speed up the process.

Dr. Hodgson spoke to this newspaper about our A Right to Know: Giving People Power campaign, which was launched last week with the aim of opening up government and other publicly funded bodies to taxpayers.

A promise to implement public access to information (PATI) legislation was first made in 2003 by former Premier Alex Scott, who is supporting our campaign. Dr. Brown stated publicly in December that he was in favour of PATI but has not said when a bill will be tabled in parliament.

"I am delighted that the Premier and the Government have expressed support for the concept," said Dr. Hodgson, who first called for greater transparency and accountability in government in 1992.

"Culturally and historically Bermuda has been an autocratic society which exercised power very undemocratically.

"Societies do not change their political culture of centuries in a decade, particularly when it is as polarised as Bermuda."

The Progressive Labour Party stalwart said she gave great credit to her party for appointing an Ombudsman in 2005 — an internationally recognised step toward good governance — and starting the legislative process to bring PATI into being.

But she added: "My biggest concern is that the Premier's critics do not use this very good idea to bash him with. It will not move their case forward.

"I do not think that for the Premier's critics to demand that the PLP put it in the Throne Speech is necessarily likely to work.

"It is against nature for human beings who have power to take instructions from their enemies, no matter how good the idea.

"It is a good idea and the Government will follow through in their own time."

She said that those not in power had to accept the priorities of those with power and suggested that Dr. Brown was most concerned with solving Bermuda's racial divide.

"All of the worst aspects of our governance are a direct result of the racial divide and the attitudes of centuries of our government towards the majority black population," she said, claiming that Mr. Scott had ignored the race issue.

* What do you think? Would you like to see PATI legislation passed as soon as possible? Share your views with us by emailing arighttoknow@royalgazette.bm or calling 278-0155 or 278-8359.