Premier Alex Scott yesterday promised a "turn-around" in Government's approach to releasing information to the public.

"As you know there have been complaints that this Government has not been forthcoming with information ? that will now turn around," Mr. Scott said at a Press conference yesterday.

And he announced that a team of four civil servants had been assigned to develop freedom of information legislation which should be ready in 2005.

The legislation was first announced in the Throne Speech last October, just months after Mr. Scott become Premier.

Government was heavily criticised under former Premier Jennifer Smith for failing to release reports on a range of issues. Many of those reports have now been made public.

But Mr. Scott said the public does not just need to know but it has the right to know.

He said Government was seeking public input on its plans.

"The Cabinet Office's Central Policy Unit has assembled a four-member Project Team, which has been tasked with driving this initiative forward."

He revealed that the project team has been in discussion with Government Ministries and Departments, and is now looking for feedback from the broader community, "who will be the end users of public access to information", he said.

"In the coming weeks, households in Bermuda will receive a flyer which outlines the general principles of public access to information and which requests that the public provide feedback to the Central Policy Unit," said Mr. Scott.

"The views of the public are critical in helping us formulate good policy for Bermuda; therefore we are asking that each person will take the time to read the flyer and respond via regular mail to the Central Policy Unit, or by e-mail at PATIgov.bm."