The Cayman Islands yesterday became the first British Overseas Territory to bring freedom of information into force — and politicians here said they hoped Bermuda would be hot on its heels.

The Caribbean country passed FOI legislation in August 2007 which came into effect yesterday, giving the public there guaranteed access to official records.

Former Premier Alex Scott, who promised FOI or public access to information (PATI) for Bermuda in 2003, said Cayman had taken a significant step forward in terms of good governance.

"It's my New Year's wish and hope that Bermuda will follow shortly," he told The Royal Gazette. "It seems as if Cayman has followed their initiation of the legislation and implemented it in a timely manner."

Mr. Scott — who commissioned a discussion paper on PATI in 2005 — said he had hoped Bermuda would be the first territory to lead the way forward on transparency.

"It wouldn't be a bad marker if we were to be the second British territory or just one of the British territories that did what I think most progressive governments are doing now and that is making information available to the public," he said.

He added that Kurt Tibbetts, Cayman's leader and a personal friend of his, was to be congratulated along with his Cabinet for this "very significant move for Cayman".

Former Opposition Leader Grant Gibbons said: "I think it's very telling that a jurisdiction smaller than us and arguably with fewer resources has managed to do it in a very reasonable period of time and yet we continue to talk about it.

"This goes back to the (PLP's) 2003 platform. This current PLP government has made a science out of not releasing information."

Dr. Gibbons, whose party has been calling for PATI for several years, said Bermuda could draft its legislation based on the Cayman law or adapt a Commonwealth Secretariat model.

"We have a lot of structures already there," he said. "We have a lot of models we can choose from. Clearly what we are lacking at this point is political will."

This newspaper's A Right to Know: Giving People Power campaign urges Government to table a PATI law in Parliament as soon as possible. Attorney General Kim Wilson said in October it was being drafted as a "priority".

Mr. Scott said: "We have a public undertaking by the AG that her office is proceeding and so let's hope that they are doing so in a timely fashion and results will be forthcoming."

Acting Premier Paula Cox said yesterday: "PATI legislation is consistently moving forward in the legislative process. The Bermuda Government's commitment to and position on PATI is unchanged."