Dominica has ranked 11 among 35 nations in the Americas and 40 among 192 countries worldwide when it comes to the freedom of the press, according to the Paris-based Reporters San Fronteres (RSF) in its 2013 Global Press Freedom Ranking.
In the Americas St. Lucia is ranked number one followed by St. Vincent and the Grenadines at 2, Jamaica at 3, United States at 4, Barbados at 5 and Canada at 6.
Other Caribbean countries ahead of Dominica in the Americas are the Bahamas at 8 and St. Kitts at 9.
On a global scale St. Lucia leads in the region at 12.
Other Caribbean countries ahead of Dominica globally are St. Vincent and the Grenadines at 21 and Jamaica at 23.
In a summary of the report RSF said in the countries of the OECS, which include Dominica, direct pressure from political authorities on news media and failure to move ahead with the decriminalization of defamation remain an issue for the press.
RSF advocates freedom of the press and freedom of information.
Reporters without Boarders is wrong in grouping Dominica with other OECS countries which have failed to move ahead with the decriminalization of defamation.
In fact Dominica does not have criminal defamation laws, and Grenada just last year decriminalized defamation as well. They should investigate the region closer before producing their “rankings”.
Given the plethora of anti-government rhetoric available in the Dominican media, I think it is safe to say that press freedom is alive and well in DA.
Thank you for the enlightening information. This does put the rankings in some question. And you are right there are no journalists or private citizens for that matter being tossed in jail for free speech no matter how ill informed here in Dominica.
Dominica News Online that make us 11th we could be number 3
Dominicans why would you al apy attention to what a french man says about Dominica? there are lots of people who are envying the development in Dominica and they are using all thetactics they can to get Domincns to respond negatively and become like the African nations who cannot progress because they alwys fighting each other. Let us stop allowing others rom outside manipulating us as a people.Somebody have to be 11 we cannot all be first.
i love that i want to give you support on your comment. perfect example we have it right here in dominica on a certain radio sstation who claims that the country is not moving nowhere. tell them go to antigua for them to cry blood
A person or a nation’s maturity can be judged by their response to constructive criticism from a reputable source. Are we reflexively defensive? Do we listen carefully and decide upon reflection if there is any merit to the criticism? Is there room for improvement? For instance does the DBS (supported by all citizens) air all sides of an issue or just repeat the current government’s press release. Why not strive to be #1 at least in the region?
I Guess in order to be free we need to decriminalise defamation. Is that saying that we would allow the press to say what ever they want about whoever they want with no accountability? Just asking. If that’s what it takes too make the press free then something is wrong. All those in agreement with it now would be up in arms when the shoe is on the other foot. Why shouldn’t the press be held accountable. Criminally if their actions warrant it.
Still thats my exact seniments!!!!
Without the DECRIMINILISATION of the Law the amount of things that are being said can you just imagine what will happen?
Those cabalists will now have authority to call every labourites the know theif on the media!!!
I don’t think you quite understand what decriminalization means. You can still sue someone for defamation of character and the court can issue a cease as desist order and impose a financial fine on the reporter and the media outlet. It does mean however that you can not throw a journalist in jail for reporting negative information about a person.
http://www.jamaicaobserver.com/news/Jamaica-tops-press-freedom-in-western-hemisphere_13526384
Thank you for posting the link to an informed and comprehensive reporting of the rankings. It is important to know exactly where our country stands and what criteria are used in making the judgement.
The linked article is a good example of what adequate reporting looks like.
First, permit me to congratulate our sister nations of St. Lucia & St. Vincent. Hats-off to you! Hope your sisters will look… to emulate. On the other hand, in my opinion, I firmly believe that we do enjoy and exercise a great deal of freedom of the press and of speech as it is now.
Maybe there are those who’d like to curtail some of these rights, as they’ve done, ie: the denial of the nation’s DBS radio station when needed by the opposing voices, who also pay the taxes. However, no doubt, if there are anymore censorship or encroachment on our rights, it may come at a very high price. Lougaoo takes notes as he roams the woods at nghts in the Montin & Tete Morne area.
Sorry but it should read:- DOMINICA LAST IN THE OECS !!!!!
R you a Dominican? then act like it and be proud of tour country.
we are proud Dominicans but we must have more freedom of the press, a government should not be afraid of press or opposition if they are truthful and honest they should not worry of what the press has to say, just look at all they saying about Obama and yet he thrives on it or PM should not worry or hide from the press
People ought to be proud of excellence and not mediocrity. St.Lucians ought to be proud of their achievement, but Dominica being proud at being last in the OECS is just wallowing in a cesspool of mediocrity.
are we not last in the OECS?
the glass is half full and the other half empty.
Why should we be last in the OECS, I would like to be better, at least half way up.
no mediocrity!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
out of 35 countries #11. While there is room for improvement, i still think that it is a good rating.
however, to be able to make a better analysis, it would be good to know the difference in points between points (if it is done by a points system) #11 and #1.
imagine if we were #34.
Lol…keep deleting my post…lol…freedom of press and you keep deleting me…
Now post this one
LOL, maybe that’s why we’re #11, not totally free
I see you
How could San Fronteres, a Paris based reporter put rate my country at #11, in press freedom in the Americas behind SLU, STV, Grenada, STK, JA, etc? That’s shocking to me! What is shocking is not necessarily the ranking but rather the nationality of the reporter. The man is from France and NOT the USA. If he was from the USA boy we would lash out on him today, and the USA; but he from France! Anyone else with french nationality? No wonder DNO is so protective and scared of lawsuit. Sorry DNO because I use to bit on you for rejecting my comments especially when they were anti the government I voted. But now I understand why.We need our lost freedom of expression again and if I cannot get it here, I will have to fly to St. Lucia to FREELY express myself.
How can Dominica allow sister island St Lucia, to be 11 places ahead of it in Press Freedom? Every day the government on the air, boasting how Dominica has the free-est press in the world, and they they are the last in the OECS.
Well at the rate it going thing may jolly well get worse since the PM is on the record as saying Dominica is TOO free, implying that if he is to have his way he will reduce the limited freedom to ZERO.
And? So? that only means something if we have at least half a dozen journalists who can actually research, uncover write and report which we dont. We have 1. Lennox Linton. And he is far from unbiased so he really cant be used as an example.
In fact the stable of uuhhmmm of hhhmmmm not sure what to call them
is probably why we are ranked so high! It’s because Government has absolutely nothing to fear 
If Dominica is number 11 and the press here is so active saying whatever they feel like what would it be like if we were number 1?
DNO, as usual, I know you will censor this. You have the freedom of gods to allow what you want and diallow what you dont want. Does RSF deal with this aspect of things? Have a ball.
WE HAVE LET US NOT ABUSE IT
learn to read and understand
Not a Good Rating for a Small Caribbean island Like Dominica!
Could be signs of the Dictatorship Elements Growing Rapidly at all Sectors in Dominica..
Cause for Concern for Potential Investors and also Tourism Product…
But sadly the Majority of Dominicans have either Left their Principles which they were born with Outside of the everyday Ethics and Standard for Personal Gain and Massive Greed and Hate!
Not for Common Cause for the island’s Development.
That’s why their Economy is Rock Bottom and they Rated the Poorest in the Eastern Caribbean!
using a capital letter for every other word, does not increase emphasis on your point and is very distracting….what exactly is the point you are trying to make????
You sure got the point….
where are you getting this information from? Dominica rated the poorest country in the Caribbean? you’re obviously one of the non-patriotic diaspora delinquents who rather cry our country down rather than make efforts to build it and when bad times hit you running back home n saying how much you love your country. Dominica may not have billions of dollars in treasury but we certainly not poor. All countries have their positives and negatives and we are certainly not the worst!!!