Caribbean

CARIBBEAN Barbados There have been no significant violations of press freedom. Trinidad and Tobago The media in Trinidad and Tobago continues to be relatively free. This has been helped by the proliferation that has characterized the sector, particularly over the past four years. With such expansion, however, the debate has intensified over the major outstanding issues of freedom of information and a general update of archaic libel laws. The opposition has tabled proposals for a freedom of information act before the Parliament, but this matter is yet to be concluded. The government is reported to be looking at the establishment of a Press Complaints Commission along the lines of the body that operates in the United Kingdom. There has been no indication from official quarters about reviewing the libel laws, but recent initiatives by the new Barbados government is being looked at extremely closely by the media in Trinidad & Tobago. The Barbados draft bill includes truth as a legitmate defense for print media, expansion of the types of trials entitled to absolute or qualified privilege, and the reform of a criminal libel law that provides for the summary trial of such cases. Outside of the above considerations, media practitioners continue to be hampered by petty officials who are not sensitized to the role and responsibilities of working journalists. The most recent incidents in this connection saw the assault and arrest by security guards of one of the photographers of the Trinidad Guardian who was on an assignment at one of the country's major public hospitals. The photographer was handed over to the police, who charged him with assault and using obscene language. He has been released on ball and the matter is yet to be determined by the courts. In the interim, his company, which is bearing full responsibility for the photographer's matter before the courts, has filed countercharges against the security guards for assault on the photographer and damage to his camera. The administration at the same hospital has had to apologize following another incident in which its guards assaulted a photographer who was taking part in a company-sponsored disaster preparedness exercise, using the resources of the hospital. Guyana The state maintains a monopoly of radio broadcasting and has not issued licenses to interested groups to start private radio stations. Modern broadcasting legislation is required but has not been introduced, despite public criticism. Jamaica There have been no incursions on freedom of the press.