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Govt. intent on protecting press freedom -PM
– says Guyana’s libel laws have been used as a weapon for too long
By Kiana Wilburg
Prime Minister Moses Nagamootoo is of the firm opinion that for too long, Guyana’s libel laws have
Prime Minister, Moses Nagamootoo
been used as a weapon to muzzle various sections of the press. He insists that such acts should be placed in the past. And to facilitate this, the Minister with responsibility for Governance says that he will ensure that the administration keeps its focus on the need to review laws which deal with the right to freedom of expression.
Nagamootoo made these comments in light of remarks which were expressed by former US Deputy Chief of Mission Bryan Hunt.
In an interview with this newspaper, the US diplomat had said that if the Government wants to demonstrate that it is committed to protecting freedom of the press, then it needs to do a few crucial things, one of which is the review of Guyana’s libel laws.
Hunt disclosed that he had seen instances where officials filed libel suits with the apparent intention of muzzling reporters or the entities they work for. He noted that libel laws globally are problematic, “…however, I think that the way in which some of them have been applied in Guyana, not by this government, but in the past, have really had a chilling effect. It’s not something that is good for freedom of the press when journalists can be charged for doing their job or for expression of their opinion. Libel laws have to be very, very, very, narrow in their application. And there has to be a review of the ones in Guyana and how they are applied”.
“And we have seen instances where it appears to an outsider like me that previous government
British High Commissioner, Greg Quinn
officials have filed libel charges not because any actual harm has been done, but because they wanted to shut up whatever reporter or media institution was carrying a story.”
The US diplomat had said that he is not by any means stating that media houses should be allowed to print or say whatever they want. He stressed that content carried by journalists should be accurate and there must be in the balance. He said that based on the cases he has observed thus far, he does not believe that the libel laws in Guyana have been invoked in an equitable manner.
In this regard, the Prime Minister said that he could not agree more. He stressed that the coalition administration is open to all suggestions and recommendations that would lead to the freedom of expression in Guyana being improved.
Nagamootoo noted that there have been recommendations to delete a section of the Defamation Act which makes it criminal in a sense, when certain allegations are made in the stories produced by journalists on particular matters.
“To me, that section has no place in our law and no journalist should be jailed for exercising the right to expression and freedom of the press. While that is a pending proposal, among others, for the amendment of the Act, I would not exclude it from Government’s considerations because I
Former US Deputy Chief of Mission Bryan Hunt
support the view that all of the laws dealing with free speech should be reviewed,” expressed the Prime Minister.
He added, “There are current cases before the court which represent attempts to gag columnists. We need to put that behind us, we need to put behind any practice that will see defamation laws being used to fight freedom of expression, and I will continue to support the need to review of our laws.”
Nagamootoo reminded that during the 2015 election campaign, there were calls for the establishment of a permanent Law Review Commission.
As leader of Government’s business in the National Assembly, Nagamootoo said that he will ensure that focus is maintained on acquiring such, so as to assist in the removal of odious provisions within the nation’s laws, particularly the Defamation Act.
In a brief interview with newspaper, British High Commissioner, Greg Quinn made it pellucid that the United Kingdom strongly supports the freedom of the press. The envoy said that a free and honest press must be allowed to play its role in shining a light on not just government, but all aspects of society.
Any restrictions on the media must therefore be limited, proportionate and justified, Quinn said. He noted however that journalists do of course, have a responsibility to report the news truthfully. The high commissioner said that the legal system must ensure this is possible.
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