Minister Thompson challenges media

With the absence of legislation to regulate the content and quality of information and entertainment, Minister of Telecommunications, Science, Technology and Industry, Dr. Jerrol Thompson, is challenging the media to be a force for good.{{more}}

“I think the media in St. Vincent and the Grenadines is in a great position to be the eyes and ears of the nation in trying to see how we could minimize cyber crime.”

The minister was speaking at a press conference on Wednesday, June 30, where he indicated that the absence of a ‘Broadcast Bill’ leaves a void that needs to be filled, not only here, but in the Organization of East Caribbean States (OECS).

He noted that there is a Telecommunications Act which regulates the technical aspects of broadcast, and there are also laws pertaining to libel, defamation of character and misuse of media, but there is nothing to regulate television, radio and newspaper content.

“The Broadcast Bill will deal with content,” Thompson said.

“… there is a loud cry that there needs to be some form of legislation to ensure that the type of content that is being aired on radio, television, in adverts and so on… that these be brought in line.”

Thompson indicated that a broadcast bill has been in draft and redraft for the past four years, with little progress.

According to Thompson, this may be due to the fact that no OECS country has to date brought a bill of that nature to Parliament.

He acknowledged that concerns may arise that such a bill may threaten freedom of speech and may be seen as censorship, but the minister said that with solid feedback from communities and citizens, the legislation could go in the right direction.

“There is a true need for what I would consider light touch regulations on the whole issue of content which would range from whether there is sufficient local content, the type of music, or whether or not we are dealing with issues of pornography and abusive words and what have you.”

“Even though there are libel laws and laws of defamation of character, the media can still strive for sensationalism on an issue as they usually strive for the truth.”