The organisers of Sunshine Week in the States have congratulated The Royal Gazette for taking part in the initiative and are urging Bermudians to embrace the idea of public access to information.

Sunshine Week coordinator Debra Gersh Hernandez, from the American Society of Newspaper Editors, contacted this newspaper to applaud our efforts at aiming to promote dialogue on the Island on open government, transparency and accountability.

"I loved your article about Sunshine Week in Bermuda — especially the idea of getting people to wear yellow on Thursday," she said. "Thanks for the great work supporting Sunshine Week and open government."

The Royal Gazette is urging the Island to celebrate Sunshine Week as part of our A Right to Know: Giving People Power campaign, which calls for a public access to information (PATI) law to be passed this year.

Ms Hernandez said Bermuda joined a host of other countries apart from the US who have taken part in Sunshine Week since it began four years ago, including Mexico, Cayman and Canada.

She said people sceptical about the benefits of PATI and similar sunshine laws should bear in mind that their primary purpose is to give taxpayers the right to information. "It's not about journalism," she said "It's for people, it's for citizens."

Tomorrow we are urging everyone who supports our campaign and who wants to see PATI passed in parliament this year to wear yellow.

* Tell us whether or not you're celebrating Sunshine Week and if you'll be wearing yellow tomorrow. Email arighttoknow@royalgazette.bm. To find our more about Sunshine Week visit www.sunshineweek.org. ends