Plus TV Says Freedom of Information Promotes Media Transparency

Louis Wade

The owner of Plus TV based in Belmopan, Louis Wade, also attended today’s consultation on the amendment to the Defamation Act. He says the fact that G.O.B. is presenting this instead of a Freedom of the Press Act or other amendments to protect freedom of expression reveal the government’s priorities. He is asking some basic journalistic questions: Who wants the Act changed?  For what reason? And, why now?

Louis Wade, Owner, Plus TV

“What are the problems that this legislation are trying to solve? Well, it cannot be a legal issue because the lawyers are not here to punch holes in the bill. It is 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. Now, if we have more freedom of speech, and freedom of information, then people will more readily voice their opinions, showing their face. If they have a social media site, they will say, “I am the owner of this media site.” But the more legislation, draconian legislation, that we have that tries to stifle free speech, it not that the speech stops. It simply goes underground.”