American journalist and author Carl Bernstein once wrote: “The lowest form of popular culture – lack of information, misinformation, disinformation, and a contempt for the truth or the reality of most people’s lives – has overrun real journalism.”
In today’s world, where social media and 24-hour news cycles bombard us with “information”, concerns about misinformation have never been more pronounced. Yet, as journalists, our commitment to truth and accuracy remains unwavering. Our duty is to provide the public with facts – even when that means sifting through misinformation and relying on trusted sources.
Accessing public information, however, is often more difficult than it should be. Yet it remains essential. While many democracies uphold the public’s right to information, several Caribbean nations still shroud critical data in secrecy, hindering citizens from making informed choices.
The media, long considered a pillar of democracy, frequently faces obstacles in obtaining information on behalf of the public. Government agencies and officials often withhold, suppress, or delay the release of information. Compounding the issue, outdated storage and dissemination methods make accessing even available data needlessly cumbersome.
At times, new information is treated as classified, as though it pertains to national security. Even clerks and secretaries, acting as self-appointed gatekeepers, may block journalists from reaching officials. This undermines the news media’s ability to uncover the truth. Ironically, the same officials who obstruct transparency are often quick to criticise the media when coverage doesn’t favour them.
Many public figures loudly proclaim their commitment to transparency, yet their actions tell a different story.
In 2009, Saint Lucia’s government introduced a draft Freedom of Information (FOI) Bill, which, like similar laws elsewhere, promised to “provide a platform for transparency, deepen democracy, and erode perceptions of corruption”.
Trinidad and Tobago and Jamaica had previously enacted FOI laws, Grenada passed but has not proclaimed one, but Saint Lucia’s bill has languished. The Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, which should be collaborating with the Attorney General’s chambers to advance this proposed legislation, has been notably inactive. Their support for this bill would signal a genuine commitment to press freedom.
The 2009 draft aimed to guarantee the right of everyone to access information and provide for effective mechanisms to secure that right – principles that remain urgent today.
We believe it’s time for a serious discussion on freedom of information with the agencies we rely on for facts: the police, the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions, the Integrity Commission, the Development Control Authority, the Attorney General’s chambers and the Financial Intelligence Authority, among others.
As Kati Suominen noted in a report for humanrightsinitiative.org: While there are positive trends in Latin America and the Caribbean, thanks to media and civil society efforts, freedom of information laws have yet to fulfil their potential. “The next step for the governments of Latin America and the Caribbean is to translate the intent of information laws into uncompromised access to information,” the report said.
As World Press Freedom Day (May 3) approaches, we urge the government, particularly the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, to champion the revision and enactment of the Freedom of Information Act. After all, as the United Nations affirms, access to information is a fundamental human right – one that underpins freedom of expression itself.
