* "Our record will show that PATI legislation is something we have previously examined and we plan to keep it in play during our next term." Premier Ewart Brown in December 2007, shortly before the General Election.

* "Government ought to be all outside and no inside." Woodrow Wilson, 28th President of the US.

* "We in Britain have worked this through quite slowly and quite carefully and after many years of debate came out with quite a strong freedom of information legislation. Having done that after a lot of thought and not a few bumps on the road, for the places we have responsibility for, including the Overseas Territories, we are keen to encourage people down that road." Bermuda Governor Sir Richard Gozney.

* "The American people want to trust in our government again – we just need a government that will trust in us. And making government accountable to the people isn't just a cause of this campaign – it's been a cause of my life for two decades." US Democratic presidential contender Barack Obama.

* "Openness and transparency to me is you get to know what's going on around here. For someone living 50 years in this country, 40 years under a previous government, you've never seen openness and transparency until the PLP came into power. We had more press conferences and releases that year than you've ever held in your history." Bermuda Senator and Cabinet Minister David Burch.

* "Press releases tell us when federal agencies do something right, but the Freedom of Information Act lets us know when they do not." US Senator Patrick Leahy.

* "It's important and critical in a democracy to have freedom of information. My ombudsman colleagues have told me it has to be very carefully implemented." Bermuda Ombudsman Arlene Brock.

* "We must never forget that the free flow of information is essential to a democratic society." Bill Clinton, 42nd President of the US.

* "Accountability and transparency will be the underlying credo for the priorities, principles and policies of a PLP Government." Progressive Labour Party election manifesto, November 1998.

* "Official information that enhances people's capacity to exercise their rights belongs in the public domain. This information must be accessible and understandable." United Nations Development Programme, Access Position paper 2004.