A freedom of information bill was tabled in the House of Assembly yesterday in what Premier Ewart Brown described as a "significant moment in our history".

The long-awaited legislation will finally give taxpayers here the right — already enjoyed by millions of people in democracies all over the world — to obtain information held by Government and other publicly-funded bodies.

MPs will debate the Public Access to Information (PATI) Act 2010 before the House breaks for the summer, when it is expected to be approved with cross-party support.

Dr. Brown said in a statement to the House: "This is a significant moment in our history, one that demonstrates just how far we have come. Our pursuit to firmly establish Bermuda as a nation not only modern in infrastructure, but also in mindset, is about to take a great leap forward.

"This bill is the fulfilment of the Government's promise to shine light on the workings of the public sector in Bermuda. It is a landmark bill, one that will put information into the hands of everyday people.

"I acknowledge that it has been a long road, but the path taken has been the right one, with the result being strong legislation that has incorporated feedback from Bermuda's people, institutions, as well as international leaders, on this issue."

PATI was first promised to voters in 2003 by former Premier Alex Scott. The Royal Gazette's A Right To Know: Giving People Power campaign, supported by Mr. Scott and countless other community leaders, has called for a freedom of information law and greater government transparency and accountability since January 2008.

The Premier said a consultation on PATI at the end of last year, which prompted more than 500 submissions from the public, was "one of the most successful of recent times".

"I believe that we have a better bill because of it," said Dr. Brown. "I would like the House to know that while the people were speaking, the Government was listening. The development of this bill has been a salient example of participatory democracy."

He said the common theme of the responses was that the law ought to be retrospective, covering all records held by the Government, not just those created after the Act becomes law.

"We reconsidered this aspect of our proposals for PATI and determined that PATI will be fully retrospective," said Dr. Brown. "This bill now covers all records, regardless of when they were created, taking us back to the time of the charter for the Somers' Isle Company, Bermuda's oldest record."

The Premier said a PATI unit would be set up and the name of its head announced soon. The unit will be responsible for implementing the bill over the next two to three years and ensuring that public authorities are ready to comply with its requirements.

He said PATI was first considered by the Progressive Labour Party under former Premier Dame Jennifer Smith and introduced to the public by "my predecessor".

Dr. Brown's failure to name Mr. Scott prompted a query from Opposition MP Patricia Gordon-Pamplin during the House of Assembly's new ministerial question time.

As of yesterday, MPs can now question ministers on statements made in Parliament and Mrs. Gordon-Pamplin asked why the "man who brought the PATI bill" had not been recognised by name so it could be "recorded for posterity".

Speaker Stanley Lowe responded: "We are not going to entertain that" and the question went unanswered.

Cabinet Secretary Marc Telemaque confirmed last night that the 530 responses received by the Cabinet Office on PATI would be made public.