PM Says “Libel Law Is Not Intended To Muzzle Media”

John Briceño

Recently, we heard from the Attorney General, Magali Marin-Young, speak about a new Libel Law that will come into effect. The Act was introduced today in the House, but many people, especially some in the media, question if its purpose is really to muzzle the media. Today, Prime Minister John Briceño quelled those concerns and assured that the media will get some form of input before that law takes effect.

John Briceño, Prime Minister

“The advent of social media, the Internet, you’re having access through your phone—where a lot of people now use the internet and social media not to share and exchange information and knowledge, but in instances been use to hurt people. And the Defamation Act addresses none of that. So, we felt that this had to be updated. It has nothing to do with trying to muzzle the media. The media has their own standards that if you were to say something that it is not so then the person that you accused of have the right to go to the courts. But, right now because of social media, who do you go to? You can’t really hold anyone responsible. So, that is more to modernize the act, not to muzzle the media. These groups that call themselves media outlet when they are not, but they use it just for politics. Politics in itself is okay, but when they use it to hurt people and defame people just because you can, you can’t really hold them accountable. That has to be changed. And today, this is what we are attempting to do. Everybody have to be careful, all the radio station and T.V. stations have to be careful, even ourselves when we are giving an interview have to be careful. And it’s just the right thing to do.”