Support is growing for The Royal Gazette's campaign to open up government and publicly funded bodies to the people — with union leader Ed Ball the latest to speak out in favour of transparency.

Mr. Ball, general secretary of Bermuda Public Services Union, said the Island should follow the example of US, Canada and many European countries and implement public access to information (PATI) legislation.

He said: "Our position has always been that just as we are held accountable for every cent that we spend and we have to make returns every year as per the Trade Unions Act so that there is complete transparency, the same should happen with government spending. It's the taxpayers' money; they have a right to know."

Mr. Ball is the latest person to back our A Right to Know: Giving People Power campaign, which is calling for the Government to table a PATI bill in parliament this year.

Others to get on board this week include columnist and former defence administrator Larry Burchall, deputy Opposition leader Patricia Gordon-Pamplin, former Opposition Leader Wayne Furbert, new United Bermuda Party MP Donte Hunt and former Premier David Saul.

Mr. Ball said elected politicians needed to be held to account and that PATI or freedom of information legislation was a key way to do that.

"No politician should ever think that he or she is greater than the populace that voted he or she in place," he said.

He agrees with opening up the meetings of publicly funded bodies and said confidential information could be discussed at the end of a session when the press and public had been asked to leave.

The BPSU also wants whistle-blower legislation here to protect civil servants who expose wrongdoing — and Mr. Ball said such a law could be based on what has worked in other jurisdictions.

Mr. Burchall said he had long been calling for better access to information for the people. "I would like to see a freedom of information act on the books here so you can walk into any office and ask for information and get it.

"Ordinary citizens should be able to ask and get an answer; ask about all sorts of things and have the right to know.

"This sense of having the right to know is what's missing (in Bermuda). It's the sense of the community having power that's not quite here yet."

Mr. Furbert said he would vote for a PATI bill if it was tabled in parliament.

"We definitely support a more open government. It's something the United Bermuda Party should have done when we were in government. We failed to do it."

Mr. Hunt, who won St. George's South for the United Bermuda Party in the last election, said backing PATI was a "no-brainer decision" for him. "If there is nothing to hide then open it up," he added.

Mrs. Gordon-Pamplin said: "I think it's a positive thing. It's certainly something that's needed and it's very positive to see it. I just hope it gets some traction. All I can do is say good luck and keep it up."

Former UBP Leader Dr. Saul said the campaign "could have a profound effect". "Anything that receives government/public money should be open for scrutiny: indeed, outlays of all government monies should be open to scrutiny, according to the Constitution," he said.

* We want YOUR support for our campaign. Please email us at arighttoknow@royalgazette.bm and share your views on whether Bermuda needs a PATI law. You can also call us on 278-0155 or 278-8359.