People will get the chance to hear experts' views on good governance at a Caribbean Ombudsman Association conference being hosted in Bermuda.

Ombudsman Arlene Brock says the event is a coup for the Island as it features a string of impressive speakers including her counterparts from across the region.

The public is invited to a day-long session — part of the five-day conference — at the Fairmont Hamilton Princess on Monday, April 28.

Speakers at April's conference include Commonwealth Secretariat Deryck Brown; former Commonwealth Secretariat Victor Ayeni, who will speak about administrative justice as a human right; former UK commissioner for public appointments Baroness Rennie Fritchie on ethics in the public sector; UK parliamentary commissioner Ann Abraham on principles of good administration; Ontario ombudsman Andre Martin on the role of the ombudsman as a watchdog; and Sheffield University's Richard Kirkham on comparative ombudsman jurisprudence.

Later in the week, topics will include the role of the ombudsman, apology legislation, handling anxious and resistant behaviour from complainants and public bodies, whistleblowing protection and freedom of information.

Opening comments will come from Premier Ewart Brown, who has repeatedly declined to respond when asked for his thoughts on public access to information (PATI) as part of The Royal Gazette's A Right To Know: Giving People Power campaign.

The Premier, under whose leadership PATI has dropped from the forefront of the Progressive Labour Party's agenda, has declared his support for good governance outside Government by announcing plans to modernise the Corporations of Hamilton and St. George's.

Dr. Brown has also pledged to introduce a press council to regulate Bermuda's newspapers — a move which some have suggested could lead to censorship and control of the media.

However, despite calls for Government to lead by example by improving its own accountability and transparency, Dr. Brown kept PATI, whistleblower protection and anti-corruption legislation out of his Throne Speech earlier this month.

Calling for people to attend the opening day of the event, Ms Brock said: "We have a stellar group of speakers who are coming. It promises to be a dynamic conference. It will be interesting for members of the public to hear them.

"Having one of these people would have been a coup. We have all these people on one day, so I'm excited about that."

Ms Brock's calls for greater transparency within some Government departments, outlined in her annual report for 2007, are entirely independent of this newspaper's A Right To Know campaign.

Do you think Government should look at improving its own accountability as well as focusing on that of the Corporations of Hamilton and St. George's and the media? E-mail arighttoknow@royalgazette.bm, or call 278-0155 or 278-8359.