Public authorities will be encouraged to take a very “user-friendly” approach when it comes to public access to information (Pati) requests, a meeting heard last night.

Information commissioner Gitanjali Gutierrez said some authorities were insisting that those applying for records under the new legislation do so in person, with proof of their Bermudian status or residency on the Island.

“That’s not within the language of the Act,” she told a dozen people who attended a session on how to exercise their rights under the Public Access to Information Act.

The commissioner said her office would be issuing guidance to all the public bodies which fall under the law — including government ministries and departments, statutory boards, parish councils and quangos — on “being user-friendly”.

She said one authority tried to restrict the day and time that Pati requests could be made, while others would not accept requests if their information officer was on vacation.

“It’s an ongoing issue,” she said, adding that if a requester was encountering difficulties in applying for the disclosure of records under the Act, an appeal could be made to her office.

The law came into effect six months ago and requires only that those asking for the release of records do so in writing.

So far, 28 public authorities directly under the control of the Bermuda Government have logged a total of 62 requests.

Anyone can make such a request to any of the 200-plus public authorities listed on the commissioner’s website, but only Bermudians and residents have the right to appeal if their application is refused.

Ms Gutierrez noted that public authorities will hold records for non-Bermudians who no longer live here.

“Best practice would give them access to those records,” she said.

In a presentation to those gathered at the Cathedral Hall in Hamilton, including Opposition MP Walton Brown, the commissioner encouraged the public to consider how Pati could work for them.

She said scandals that had emerged in other countries due to freedom of information requests — such as MPs’ expenses in Britain or the Tempura case in Cayman — were “enormous, significant, dramatic” examples of how Pati could make an impact.

Just as important, she said, were the requests that could be submitted by “everyday citizens” concerned about issues like education, the environment and public spending.

“When you hear a statement by a public authority, ask yourself are you just getting conclusions.

“Ask yourself what are those conclusions based on and then ask yourself can you test it.

“Ask yourself, can you test that statement and what information do you need in order to be able to test it.”

Michael Dunkley said in a statement yesterday he was proud that Bermuda had embraced Pati.

“We have listened, we have heeded the demand to make Pati a reality and we continue to make amendments, as you will see during the upcoming parliamentary session, that are designed to make Pati operate even more efficiently in Bermuda,” said the Premier.

Another Pati session will be held this evening in the Upstairs Theatre of the World Heritage Centre in St George’s at 6.30pm and there will be one at Dalton E Tucker Primary School in Southampton at 7pm tomorrow.

Ms Gutierrez will also do a live online question and answer session with this newspaper at 10am on Thursday, when readers are invited to quiz her on Pati and transparency. Log onto www.royalgazette.com that morning to take part.