Alex Scott reiterated his support for transparency at the weekend — and warned Government that it could find itself "playing catch up" with the rest of the world if it doesn't implement public access to information legislation soon.

The former Premier is backing The Royal Gazette's A Right to Know: Giving People Power campaign, which is calling on Premier Ewart Brown and his Cabinet to push through a PATI law in 2008.

Mr. Scott promised public access to information in the first Throne Speech of his premiership in 2003.

The Government's Central Policy Unit (CPU) published a discussion paper on it two years later but a bill has yet to be drafted.

Progressive Labour Party stalwart Mr. Scott, who was ousted as party leader by Ewart Brown in October 2006, told this newspaper that the topic was discussed on talk radio last week.

"I have received, over the radio, some abuse, which I wasn't surprised about, from the hard core party members saying it shouldn't have been done without taking it to the (PLP) caucus," he said. "But it's a matter that has already gone that route."

He said one caller suggested he was speaking out of jealousy because he was no longer party leader.

"I assure her that that's not my interest by any means," he said. "It's a case of us really, if we are not careful, playing catch up with the rest of the world."

Mr. Scott said he believed most of his party supported PATI but now needed to be convinced that it should be a priority. "Senator (Walton) Brown said that it's a matter of priorities. They are prepared to support it but they are doing other things. Well, as the late (Tourism Minister) David Allen used to say: 'you can chew gum and talk at the same time'.

"It's going to take two or three years, if not longer, to fully implement it. It takes quite a bit. We should start yesterday if we want it to really occur in the next few years."

Mr. Scott said a lot of the legwork had already been done by the CPU, including addressing concerns about protecting privacy and classified material.

"It would be no difficulty for Government to start now," he said. "The longest journey begins with the first step."

He added that he would be "pleasantly, pleasantly, pleasantly surprised" to see PATI in the Throne Speech on Friday.

Last night, Dr. Brown's press secretary said he had nothing new to add on the subject of PATI at the moment.

The Premier has previously spoken in support of public access to information.

* Do you want to see a commitment to PATI in the Throne Speech? Email your views to arighttoknow@royalgazette.bm or call us on 278-0155 or 8359.