Work has begun on a plan to implement Bermuda's new public access to information (PATI) law, Government announced last night.

Culture and Social Rehabilitation permanent secretary Wayne Carey has been seconded to the Cabinet Office to lead the project and a public awareness campaign will soon be launched, according to a press release.

The PATI Act, passed by Parliament last month, will give citizens in Bermuda the right to request Government-held records — as The Royal Gazette's A Right To Know: Giving People Power campaign has called for since January 2008.

Mr. Carey said he hoped PATI would "drive a culture shift among public authorities so that more information is proactively published rather than having to be requested" under the new law.

"The PATI Act has now been passed by the Legislature but before it can be made operational, the necessary procedural framework must be established to facilitate access to information requests," he said.

"This will include the establishment of a PATI Unit, the preparation of PATI guidance documents and codes of practice, the launch of a PATI public awareness campaign, the training of public authorities on PATI, and the establishment of an Information Commissioner's Office."

The PATI Act is available online at www.bermudalaws.bm.