A civil servant accused of withholding information from the public has been assigned a new task — helping to implement the Island's recently passed freedom of information law.

Bermuda Archives director Karla Hayward will help bring in the first phase of the Public Access to Information Act (PATI) 2010, along with Culture permanent secretary Wayne Carey, who has been seconded to the Cabinet Office, and Michael Oatley, Government's director of information technology.

Ms Hayward was at the centre of an investigation launched in 2008 by Ombudsman Arlene Brock after complaints from Archives users that records were being arbitrarily withheld.

Ms Brock reported in her 2009 Atlantica Unlocked report on the Archives: "A number of formal staff and user complaints in 2007 highlighted concerns about the public service generally and access specifically."

She quoted users who claimed Ms Hayward only gave access to information to those she liked and that she controlled the official repository of government records "like a kingdom".

Ms Hayward said in a formal response that Atlantica Unlocked contained "personal and professional character assassinations", adding: "I honestly do try to do my best."

The Ombudsman found evidence of maladministration at the Archives and recommended that the director concentrate on the "monumental task" of making sure government departments were trained to manage records for future archiving, especially in light of PATI.

Ms Brock said yesterday that the new task assigned to Ms Hayward was consistent with her recommendations.

The Cabinet Office announced Ms Hayward's secondment in a press release, which described it as "in keeping with the Government's commitment to public access to information".

"Ms. Hayward has already been involved with PATI and will bring to bear considerable knowledge of records management and archival science to assist in the transparency intended to be achieved by PATI," said the statement.

Cabinet Secretary Marc Telemaque added yesterday: "The assignment of an officer with Ms Hayward's qualifications and experience to deal with the implementation work prior to the full activity expected as a result of PATI is clearly warranted.

"Using her expertise in records management, which would've been relied upon in any event, as opposed to incurring additional expense for a consultant, makes good sense and is good management.

"In her seconded role Ms Hayward will report to Mr. Wayne Carey, the permanent secretary also seconded for this purpose."

Premier Ewart Brown said in July, when PATI was passed in the House of Assembly, that it would take two to three years to implement.

While Ms Hayward and Mr. Oatley are working with Mr. Carey on bringing in the Act, Chris Farrow will act as IT director and Joanne Brangman as Archives director.

Randy Rochester is acting as permanent secretary at the Ministry of Culture and Social Rehabilitation.