The independent media doesn't unite behind a common cause very often but all the major media houses did today when they went to a Constitution and foreign Affairs Committee Meeting - chaired by Julius Espat.
The committee met to consider the Defamation Bill of 2022 which seeks to "strike a balance between the prosecution of the reputation of an individual and the freedom of speech and expression." The media is at the center of all such deliberations and we were invited to attend.
But, the press wanted some very specific protections put in the law and when the meeting was done - here's what the media bosses had to say:
Renee Trujillo, News Director, LOVE FM
"Unfortunately, this is the first time the media is actually being invited to even ask questions or to even be consulted on it, even though it has already been drafted and what have you and the major media houses are here to ask questions, make comments, suggestions, get some clarity, in terms of what this defamation bill entails and how its going to impact the major media houses. I mean we report on news all the time, we are constantly getting threatened for liable defamation what have you. It was important for us to be here to basically expressed our views on the situation, request for some sort of strengthening in terms of protection of the mainstream media houses, because I think that is essentially what we really and truly need, we need to be respected as the fourth state, we need to be given as you said in the meeting incorporate the freedom of the press enshrined that into the constitution."
Marleni Cuellar, C.E.O., Great Belize Television
"There is a level of intimidation that is used very often, citing the defamation law. And it is critical one, that we understand all the changes that are being made, how it affects us, and being able to take advantage of the opportunity this morning to voice our concerns of where we feel we are not adequately protected."
Hon. Julius Espat, Chmn, Constit. & Foreign Affairs Cmte.
"They took note of your comments and I thought they were good comments, very important information and so the committee has decided that, that bill will go back to the attorney general's ministry. We will await further comments. I understood you all don't have an association, but at least if you can do it individually. By the 15 March that information will be taken into account and then we will send back the revised or proposed bill so that you can review it again."
Louis Wade, Owner, Plus TV
"I was very concerned about the fact that instead of working legislations that ensures freedom of information, because freedom of information is going to reduce liable and defamation, because you are able to get the evidence that you need to carry a story. Thats what the formal media houses need, more access to credible information, but what has come out is defamation legislation, then that shows you the priority. So what are the problems that this legislation is trying to solve? Well it can't be a legal issue, the lawyers are not here to punch holes in the bill, it's not coming from any of the other quarters, but the people who are here, are the traditional media. You don't even see the social media here, so the ones that they claim they are trying to control, which is the social media, have not made an appearance. But because the traditional, legitimate media also have a social media site where we post our news, this legislation is extremely important to us. I think we are here trying to ensure that the legislation produces something that is better for the media, because when it's better for the media, it's better for the nation."
Jules Vasquez
"You certainly understand that the law was propagated, promulgated and circulated without input nor knowledge of the media. We found out about it second hand. This inherently suggest that we the most affected group are just seen as door mats or placeholders."
Hon. Francis Fonseca, Minister of Education
"I certainly, it would have been good to have a comprehensive discussion with the Attorney General's office, prior to the tabling of the bill, but it is not too late, We are going through the process. For that type of input. We had a good meeting today and you all provided very good comments on the bill. Those will be taken fully into account. But in my view, in my respectful view, the bill seeks to provide greater protection to the media. In the past under the common law what we had was sort of in a sense greater leverage being given to the reputation of individuals, greater preference in a sense to the reputation of individuals at the expense of freedom of speech or freedom of expression and this bill seeks to correct that. It codifies the common law and it puts in place in law specific defences."
The technical people at the meeting were from the Attorney General's Ministry.
