The P.C.C. has Breakfast with the Media

Louis Wade

The People’s Constitution Commission has been engaged in extensive consultations with representative bodies across the country, including teachers, as well as members of the various armed forces.  Today, the P.C.C. had breakfast with the media and used that opportunity to discuss the ongoing constitutional reform process as it relates to the role and freedoms of the fourth estate.  Representing the media on the commission is Pastor Louis Wade.

Louis Wade, Media Representative, P.C.C.

“The media has played a very important role in helping us to educate the nation.  Several stories have gone out on the PCC and the decision was made several months ago to take the country and divide it into four zones, each zone could have different types of events to meet the needs of the specific areas of the country.  And so, we felt that Belize City is the hub of media and, therefore, in collaboration with the Belize City zone leader, Mrs. Maria Zabaneh, we decided that this would be a great opportunity to meet the media and to hear personally from both representatives and individuals within the media itself, the areas that they would like to see improved.  I must add that on one of the evening programs, it was brought out very clearly that freedom of the press needs to be directly addressed within the constitution.  And so, we knew that there was a burning issue that the media wanted to be able to express and so this morning, that was done.”

Reporter

“Now those in the government will challenge you all or will challenge you, as the media representative on the PCC, and say, “Well, we have freedom of expression.”  The media’s freedom to express themselves, the press’ freedom is engendered within that.  Why do you need a specific clause for freedom of the press?  I understand that the political establishment may be threatened by that, like that’s too much.  It’s enough as it is.”

Louis Wade

“Well, our guest speaker, attorney-at-law Darrell Bradley, spoke specifically on the issue, stating, for example, the freedom of privacy or right to privacy is expressed in the constitution and as it relates of speech or any kinds of freedoms that the press currently has, it is based on derived material, it is not expressed.”