The Barbados Association of Journalists and Media Workers (BARJAM) has cited “archaic” legislation as a serious hindrance to investigative journalism Barbados.
And it is the hope of BARJAM president Emanuel Joseph that Freedom of Information legislation, promised by Government, can correct that issue once drafted and implemented.
“Right now, we have some laws that are archaic in terms of the libel and defamation laws.
And it really restricts us as journalists in carrying out our work in an effective way,” Joseph said during a press conference at the Barbados Union of Teachers headquarters in Merryhill, Welches, St Michael.
“If we could get a review of these laws and tie them into the Freedom of Information Legislation; I believe that would free our hands a little more in terms of investigative journalism,” he added.
With BARJAM chairman of the events committee Anthony “Admiral” Nelson by his side, Joseph noted people had a perception that there was no investigative journalism in Barbados.
However, he said many people weren’t aware of the constraints journalists worked with.
Joseph used instances of advertisers threatening to pull their ads in light of negative press and officials using their connections to stop stories from being published as evidence of restraints.
A Freedom of Information bill would serve to help rectify these and other issues.
Such legislation was promised by the Barbados Labour Party in their 2018 manifesto.
“The BLP will restore Barbados’ reputation for fairness and transparency and pursue genuine transformation by introducing a Freedom of Information Act to release to the public all information not restricted on the grounds of national security, personal privacy or commercial sensitivity,” the BLP said on its manifesto.
“This will allow greater public oversight of the decisions and actions taken by Government,” it added.
Matters such as these restraints would be discussed at future BARJAM workshops, Joseph said.
Additionally, he said BARJAM would be having a church service tomorrow at Mount of Praise Wesleyan Holiness Church at 8:30 a.m.
The association would also host a cricket match at Dover Playing Field on December 15. (AD)
