Caribbean Member States urged to improve access to information

Caribbean Member States must strive to improve access to information and strengthen government information systems, as take of a proactive approach to sharing government information with the public and traditional media.
This is the sentiment expressed by Jamaica’s Minister within the Office of the Prime Minister with Responsibility for Information, Robert Nesta Morgan, who recently concluded a visit to Guyana in commemoration of World Press Freedom Day.
Morgan who was at the time speaking at a 2024 Media Awards & Cocktail Reception last Friday, told the gathering that the Caribbean region should take the opportunity to initiate discussions that will further strengthen regional relationships on matters such as neutral cooperation between corresponding departments of state media, mass communication and public relations.
He believes that this can be done through the formation of CARICOM Information Ministers forums, which will serve as a platform for strategic dialogue, collective action, negotiations, and harnessing the power collective voicing for the purpose of equity, justice and fairness in the digital age.

According to the Jamaican Minister, the most powerful antidote to dishonesty is transparency, and governments that give information to the public do not suffer from the ailment of misinformation.
“Governments within the Caribbean should operate transparent information eco-systems which respect the right to access by civil society, media organisations and the public in general. Investigative journalism should be free from interference whether from government, non-government actors and other silent parties,” Morgan said.
The Minister added that Governments must also make the necessary investments to develop and improve public media infrastructure to provide broadcasting.
He noted that this coupled with strong media policies, regulatory standards and guidelines can aid in the preservation of free press.
“We’re in a digital age so consideration must be given to building out differentiation strategies… We can make the necessary investment and involve ourselves to build out the proper tools to equip our people to be able to navigate and understand the world that we live, in 2024 and beyond,” Morgan added.

Commitment to press freedom
Guyana recently took part in the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation’s (UNESCO) World Press Freedom Day Conference at the Centro Cultural Gabriela Mistral, Santiago, Chile.
The three-day conference, the Guyana Government emphasised its dedication to the fundamental democratic principles of press freedom and access to information.
This was made known by Gordon U. French, Public Affairs Liaison in the Department of Information and Public Affairs, Office of the Prime Minister, who joined over 2,500 media workers, policymakers, environmental activists, and non-governmental organisations to discuss the current challenges and opportunities in environmental reporting and the broader media landscape.
“The discussions at the conference are crucial, occurring at a critical juncture amidst our Guyana’s global leadership and commitment to environmental protection and climate change mitigation. Therefore, it is essential that we remain vigilant and informed about the latest developments, focusing on emerging global issues to help strengthen the foundation of fundamental rights and freedoms already enshrined in Guyana,” French stated.
Based on initial discussions at the conference, there are increasing calls for Governments to collaborate with journalists and other stakeholders to develop public policies to combat misinformation and fake news campaigns, not only regarding the environment but especially as the world prepares for a ‘super election year’ in 2024.
“In Guyana, we are increasingly recognising the global conversation surrounding Artificial Intelligence (AI) and its implications for the proliferation of fake news. This presents challenges for our journalists and government as we endeavour to safeguard our environment and the rights of citizens. President Dr. Irfaan Ali has taken decisive steps to lead local discussions on AI, representing a commitment to confront the challenges of AI and fake news head-on.”
There is a global push for ensuring that the governance of digital platforms foster the transparency of technology companies, their accountability, due diligence, user empowerment, and content moderation and curation based on international human rights’ standards, as indicated in UNESCO’s Guidelines for the governance of digital platforms.
The event offers an excellent opportunity for all stakeholders to reaffirm their commitment to promoting and ensuring freedom of expression worldwide.