The Royal Gazette is inviting all of Bermuda to bask in the sunshine this week — and support an initiative promoting public access to information and open government.

We want you to join us in celebrating Sunshine Week — a US idea aimed at opening up dialogue about the importance of transparency, accountability and giving people the ability to get hold of information which affects their lives.

This newspaper is marking Sunshine Week as part of our A Right to Know: Giving People Power campaign, which calls for Government to fulfil a long-held promise to Bermuda and pass a public access to information (PATI) law this year.

The aim is to get the community talking about why it is crucial for taxpayers to know how their money is being spent and to think about why Bermuda should follow more than 70 democracies around the world in introducing a freedom of information law.

To make it fun, we're asking you to take part in our Wear Yellow Day on Thursday and sport an item of clothing that reflects your support for sunshine.

Last night, Premier Ewart Brown told The Royal Gazette he welcomed Sunshine Week and the principle it represents, adding that the process of making PATI a reality is "happening consistently and without fanfare".

But he insisted that when the law is passed it will not be because of this newspaper's campaign but because of his Government's commitment to Bermudians.

Former Premier Alex Scott — who pledged to introduce PATI shortly after becoming the country's leader in 2003 — told us that he backed Sunshine Week as it was vital to keep raising awareness about public access to information.

"It's not one of those issues that Bermudians automatically go to," he said. "But when suddenly circumstances present themselves that they want information, then it becomes an issue.

"It's one of those basic freedoms that we don't think about or miss until we don't have it.

"If we don't keep it to the forefront, if we don't, like anything else important, ensure that it's maintained and sustained, we'll lose it."

He said that having frank conversation about the topic was key. "That's one of the things that distinguishes a free democracy from one where your rights are dictated and controlled."

The Progressive Labour Party promised voters in its election-winning manifesto in 1998 that it would operate in the "sunshine of public scrutiny" and ensure accountability and transparency in all areas of governance.

But Government has yet to set a date for PATI to be tabled in parliament. Yesterday Opposition Leader Kim Swan welcomed our renewed push for it to become a priority this year.

"I think it's a good thing," he said. "I think the one thing we need to bring it to people is to show them how it could better their lives and maybe that takes a little thought."

He asked citizens to consider issues which affect them and which could affect future generations such as dwindling open space and think about how important it is for decision-makers to be accountable for their decisions, something transparency makes possible.

"It needs to be demonstrated to the public that open government is in their best interests and that their best interests are protected if things are done openly."

Sunshine Week was launched four years ago by the American Society of Newspaper Editors.

The organisation's Sunshine Week website — www.sunshineweek.org — makes clear that freedom of information laws benefit all citizens.

"Though spearheaded by journalists, Sunshine Week is about the public's right to know what its government is doing, and why," say the organisers.

Charles Davis, executive director of the National Freedom of Information Coalition in the US, writes on page 10 of today's newspaper about how democracies around the world have benefited from opening up their records to the people and argues that Bermuda is "long overdue" a PATI law.

The Royal Gazette hopes you'll talk to your friends, family and colleagues during Sunshine Week about whether you support public access to information and consider whether you want the right to attend the meetings and read the minutes of bodies you fund and get answers to questions concerning the lives of you and your family.

And if you see your MP in the next few days, we hope you'll ask them to press the case for PATI in parliament.

While we can't promise the weather will be sunny this week, this newspaper does pledge to keep pushing for you to be granted a basic right that millions of people around the world enjoy and to continue trying to shine a light on how your tax dollars are spent.

* Will you be celebrating Sunshine Week and supporting A Right to Know: Giving People Power? We want to know your views on PATI and open government. Email arighttoknow@royalgazette.bm.