Today is the deadline for public comment on the draft Public Access to Information (PATI) bill but MP John Barritt hopes there will be flexibility in the deadline due to glitches with the Government website.

Premier Ewart Brown unveiled the draft bill on October 15 this year and said he hoped to table it in the House of Assembly during the current parliamentary session.

By the end of last week, 24 submissions had been made to Cabinet on the bill. Mr. Barritt, the United Bermuda Party's spokesperson for legislative reform, said yesterday: "I had a call from a constituent who tried to access the draft Government legislation via the Government website.

"He said it was down on Friday and Saturday morning too. He got a copy from the Cabinet Office but he was concerned that others may have given up. I'm making a plea that Government will not hold this deadline hard and fast.

" At this time of year deadlines sneak up on you and I hope that Government will give people until the end of the week for people who can't get it in on time."

The Premier's press secretary Arnold Minors did not respond to a request for comment. The official deadline for views to be submitted on the draft legislation is the end of the day today. Send them to pati@gov.bm or deliver them in writing to the Cabinet Office.