The Royal Gazette today pledges to continue pressing Government on your behalf to pass public access to information legislation — despite there being no mention of it in yesterday's Throne Speech.

This newspaper's A Right to Know: Giving People Power campaign calls on Premier Ewart Brown and his Cabinet to make opening up Government and other publicly funded bodies to taxpayers a priority.

We asked Dr. Brown to include a commitment to table a public access to information (PATI) law in 2008 in the Throne Speech — a request which was denied.

But the term "freedom of information" did get a mention in the Throne Speech. Government revealed plans for a self-regulatory press council and said it would ensure that "journalistic integrity and the freedom of information continue to mature".

We later asked Dr. Brown: "If the press signs up to a regulatory body, would you make a pledge to table PATI legislation? Can you say when we will see freedom of information legislation here?" His press secretary said he had nothing more to add.

Bill Zuill, editor of The Royal Gazette, said: "It was interesting to note that the Throne Speech mentioned freedom of information in the same breath as freedom of the press, but that nothing is planned in the current year to give the public the legally enshrined right to freedom of information. Nonetheless, we will continue our campaign to give the public the right to know."

Readers have been e-mailing us to express their support for our campaign, which also aims to get publicly funded bodies to hold open meetings and answer questions to which taxpayers deserve answers.

Toppy and Saundra Cowen wrote: "The public outcry for an open book policy cannot be ignored and there are numerous examples of undisclosed discussions that take place behind closed doors.

"We must make clear to all elected officials that this community wants transparency, be it an insignificant change to one street in Hamilton or where a billion dollar hospital is to be built. Undoubtedly elected officials are now challenged in 2008 to radically change systems to bring Bermuda into the open arena of 'freedom of information' which virtually every democracy is now demanding."

Jean Roberts, of Warwick, said: "I totally agree that we taxpayers have a right to know."

• We are still looking for your views on PATI and examples of information you have tried or want to obtain. Please e-mail us at arighttoknow@royalgazette.bm or call 278-0155 or 8359.