Minister Morgan Urges Investment in Strengthening Government Communication by Caribbean Countries

Minister without Portfolio in the Office of the Prime Minister with responsibility for Information, Hon. Robert Morgan, is calling on Caribbean countries to invest in bolstering government communication and improving access to information.

He made the call as he addressed the World Press Freedom Day gala in Georgetown, Guyana, on Friday (May 3).

“As a region, we need to strengthen government communication systems and take a proactive approach to sharing government information with not only the public but also traditional media. The fact is that, while the machinery of government media is not profit-driven, the value it provides to citizens is fundamental. Governments must, therefore, make the necessary investments to develop and improve the public media infrastructure to provide for public service broadcasting,” Minister Morgan said.

He noted that with the emergence of the digital age, consideration must be given to building out differentiated communication strategies to reach people via the various platforms.

Minister Morgan shared that the UNESCO 2021 Report on Public Access to Information indicates that information access is critical for empowering citizens to make decisions, holding governments accountable and facilitating active and effective public participation.

He noted that in the Jamaican context, as part of the communication machinery, the weekly post-Cabinet press briefings provide an avenue where journalists can ask questions about issues across a range of subject areas.

The briefings are streamed on various platforms to ensure greater reach to the population, he said, further citing the Access to Information legislation, which allows journalists to request information on several topics.

Minister Morgan said that governments within the Caribbean region should operate in a transparent information ecosystem, which respects the right to access information by civil society, media organisations and the public in general.

“The most powerful antidote to dishonesty is transparency,” he contended, noting that governments must act openly, speak clearly, and give the public as much information as possible.