Vaz Says Government Committed To Press Freedom

Minister with responsibility for Information, Hon Daryl Vaz, has reiterated the Government’s commitment to Press freedom.

Minister with responsibility for Information, Hon Daryl Vaz.

Mr. Vaz said that the Government would not do anything to threaten the tradition that the country has enjoyed for many decades, of having a free Press.
The Minister, who was addressing the Post Cabinet press conference last Thursday (May 6) at Jamaica House, insisted that the Jamaican press was “indeed, one of the freest in the hemisphere.”
He said that the government will be pursuing amicable discussions with media owners, to gain compliance with its request that they air shorter Government programmes.
“I look forward to continued discussions with the Media Association of Jamaica. That is something that we are totally within our right to do. We are utilizing it in the way that we deem best to carry Government communication to the people,” he said.
Mr. Vaz noted that there were checks in the system, to ensure that Government does not abuse the time it is allowed for daily broadcasts.
“The regulators will be very attentive to this, and I know that the media association and the press association will be the watchdogs to highlight any area that they think that is crossing the line from Government message to political propaganda,” he stated.
Mr. Vaz emphasized that the Government was also committed to keeping the populace informed, using modern formats.
“Not because it has been used in one way for so long a time (means) that is the only way that it can be used. Some of this information is critical, that will explain a lot to the people as to why they are being affected in their various communities, whether it be bauxite, whether it is sugar, and we have a responsibility, and we make no apologies for that,” the Minister stated.