The state of freedom of the press and of expression during this period continued to get worse due to the anti-defamation law passed by the Senate on March 14 and which is seen as an impediment to the practice of journalism which in the past has been regarded as inhibiting reporting on cases of public corruption.
The Chamber of Deputies has not pronounced on that law, which set punishment of several years imprisonment for journalists or individuals that are found guilty of defaming public officials and members of the police force.
On May 3, during celebration of the World Press Freedom Day, the head of the UNESCO mission in Haiti, Paul Gomis, stated before a group of officials and journalists that "democracy cannot advance without the establishment of a democratic society and without respect by government authorities for press freedom."
"There is no long-lasting development nor is there peace without press freedom," Gomis declared.
For his part, Congressman Caleb Desrameaux said at that same meeting that in the Congress's Culture and Communication Committee he had begun to work on a bill on access to information for journalists and students.
He also expressed doubts about the new State and Public Service News Media Commission. On May 17 a presidential decree announced the creation of that body despite the fact that, according to Desrameaux, there already are dependencies that deal with the media, such as the Education Ministry, the National Audiovisuals Council and others.
