Readers of The Royal Gazette want access to government-held information and think they should be allowed into the meetings of organisations they fund.

That's what the majority of people who responded to our A Right to Know: Giving People Power campaign, launched last week to press for a more transparent Government, told us.

And almost 300 people have already signed up to a group on social networking site Facebook calling for public access to information (PATI) legislation for Bermuda — less than a week since it was created.

Emails from readers show that Bermuda's residents are keen to have a right enjoyed by millions in democratic countries around the world. Janet Wingate wrote: "Just a quick email to say how encouraged I felt having read today's edition of the paper. I am certainly in full support of public transparency and accountability, as are all right thinking Bermudians.

"I know it would benefit everyone. I wish Alex Scott, The Royal Gazette and everyone involved great success in this PATI campaign."

Andre Richardson said: "Every election we are told by the MPs that they work for us — the people of Bermuda — but once the election is over they seem to be the ones back in the driver's seat and don't have to answer to the Bermuda public any more." He said access to information legislation would "hold them accountable 24/7 365", adding: "This is something that we can all get behind. Bravo to Dame Jennifer Smith for bringing it to the attention way back when and to former Premier Alex Scott for keeping it going during his time.

"Bravo to all the groups that have the courage to stand up and say: 'Yes we would like to monitor how the Government is spending Bermuda's money'. Let's keep in step with the rest of the world."

Lise and Edmund Fox told us: "Please put us on the list of supporters for A Right to Know as we need the power to speak, to hear and to find out as we want to stay a democratic society. We think it's about time that we find out where our taxpayers' money is going, how it's being spent."

Belinda Mahoney said: "In response to your campaign for freedom of information, I completely support your efforts and would like to see a law enacted before the end of this year. I am a Bermudian and a registered voter."

Raymond Ray emailed to say he was in total agreement with the campaign's aims, which include getting publicly funded bodies to open up their meetings. "We the PAYING public shouldn't be denied access to any meeting paid for by 'we lot'," he said.

Margaret Anne Hern said she believed the minutes of meetings held by publicly funded bodies should be available and that such organisations should accept and respond to queries from taxpayers.

"What we really need to know is what decisions were made and why so that we can hold our elected officials accountable," she said. "Minutes could be made available online so that everyone could have access and interpret the decisions for themselves and feel comfortable that proper procedures are in place."

Pat Ferguson emailed: "I would like to throw my support behind The Royal Gazette's A Right to Know campaign. If people have the right to vote a government in, then they have the right to know what that government is doing.

"We have too many closed shops in Bermuda and if you are using the people's money to operate a country, then the people have 'A Right to Know' how their money is being spent."

Surprisingly, not everyone supports the idea of public access to information. Jenna Cleckley, bookkeeper at Lee Middle School, said it was a cliche to suggest that the public had a right to know. "In fact, everyone does not need to know everything," she said.

* What do you think? Share your views on the topic and tell us what information YOU want to find out. Email arighttoknow@royalgazette.bm.

* To join our Facebook group and show your support for PATI legislation visit www.facebook.com and search for "Citizens for freedom of information in Bermuda" in Groups.