Ombudsman Arlene Brock has given her support for public access to information (PATI) — but warned of possible hurdles which need to be overcome if it is introduced in Bermuda.

Speaking to The Royal Gazette about its A Right To Know: Giving People Power campaign, Ms Brock stressed the importance of freedom of information in a democracy.

However, she said Ombudsmen in some countries have faced difficulties by doubling up as information commissioners — the person who rules what can and cannot be made available to the public.

She said this leads to a contradiction in which the Ombudsman — a role designed to improve accountability — is sometimes required to deny people the right to information.

Further, she said some details provided to the Ombudsman need to be kept private to avoid discouraging people from reporting complaints.

She concludes that while PATI would be a step forward, it would need to be taken carefully.

"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," she said.

"It's a very important concept as a whole, but there are some specific ways to be careful.

"We (the Office of the Ombudsman) have to have candid and full information and therefore information held by the Ombudsman has to be exempt (from PATI), otherwise people will not give us information.

"In many cases the Ombudsman is also the information commissioner but that's a double-edged sword. It's not a role I would be particularly interested in taking because a lot of the work requires the information commissioner to tell people what they can't have access to and I would prefer our officer to be perceived as a place where resolution happens.

"I'm told by Ombudsman colleagues that there has to be a fair number of office legal staff for freedom of information, which is not something I would really want."

A Right To Know, supported by former Progressive Labour Party Premier Alex Scott, is calling for Premier Ewart Brown to restore PATI to the top of Government's agenda.

Do you think public access to information legislation should be brought to Bermuda in 2008? E-mail us at arighttoknow@royalgazette.bm or call 278-0155 or 278-8359.