Opposition leader John Barritt yesterday welcomed new measures to stamp out any unethical behaviour in Government but warned: “Let’s not get carried away with too much praise.”Premier Paula Cox’s plan to improve transparency and accountability with good governance legislation, due for debate in the House of Assembly today, won praise from Governor Sir Richard Gozney earlier this week.Sir Richard also commended Ms Cox for removing “special concessions” afforded to former Premier Ewart Brown’s Tourism and Transport Ministry, which didn’t follow financial controls imposed on other Ministries and ran up much-publicised overspends.Mr Barritt, a long-time advocate for good governance and legislative reform, said in a statement yesterday: “We too believe there ought to be no special concessions when it comes to capital projects.“That surely is the lesson that we’ve learned from a litany of reports from the Auditors General.“It strikes us as exceptional that this was even allowed to happen at a time when the current Premier was Finance Minister because it cost Bermuda tens of millions of dollars in overspends, contributing significantly to our terrible debt situation.“The Governor’s endorsement of the move is right on the money. It is a corrective action that needed to be taken to end exceptions to a system of oversight that exists to protect standards, the public purse and the integrity of Bermuda’s Government.“But let’s not get carried away with too much praise. This is corrective action that had to be taken. The really important work is still ahead of us.“We believe Bermuda needs to rebuild its system of governance with open architecture that brings about greater transparency and accountability.“Institutionalising these two principles, transparency and accountability, is a critical goal for the One Bermuda Alliance. We believe we need a sea change in the way we conduct the people’s business on and off the Hill.“People have had enough of Government behind closed doors. They want to know what’s going on and they want their government to be more directly accountable for their decisions and actions.“The good governance legislation scheduled for debate is an encouraging first step albeit long past due. But there is much more that needs to be addressed if we are to take our place with other fully functioning democratic societies.”The bill set for debate today gives extra powers for the Director of Internal Audit to seize documents, introduces whistle-blower protection, and creates new offences for failing to disclose interests when awarding Government contracts.Among other measures, it will formally set up the Office of Project Management and Procurement: a facility under Ms Cox’s personal watch designed to ensure contracts are handed out fairly.Ms Cox has pledged the legislation will enhance oversight and control, ensuring best practice across Government.Useful websites: www.oba.bm.