Caribe

CARIBBEAN Jamaica During 1993, a third national paper started a twice-weekly circulation. It is printed by Gannett in Florida for the local company, the Jamaica Observer. This new newspaper is scheduled to go daily during the early part of 1994 when it acquires its own press. There is no duty payable on imported newspapers, although locally printed papers are subject to duty on raw materials such as ink, films and plastic plates. The government turned down a request from the Gleaner Company to make newspapers printed locally as well as importd ones free of duty. There are several regional weekly newspapers published in the major towns of the island. Up until 1993 there was only one television station owned, by the government. During the year another, privately-owned, began broadcasting. There are nine radio stations on the island, two of them owned by the government and the rest in private hands. Of the nine radio stations, four are national, including the two government stations. Within the past year two new PM stations have begun broadcasting. Barbados The press in Barbados enjoyed absolute freedom of the press in the period under review. Guyana There are two daily newspapers, the state-owned newspaper Chronicle and the previously government-owned Stabroek News. The new government led by President Cheddi Jagan which took office in October 1992 has not interfered with the private media in any way and there is freedom of the press in Guyana. The government is working toward setting up a broadcasting authority. It is widely believed that the authority will issue licenses for new radio stations and several applications have been filed. At present, the only two radio stations are state-controlled. It is also expected thet the new authority will regulate television.