Veteran Journalist and the proprietor of Dominica News Online (DNO), Tim Durand, has renewed a call for a Freedom of Information Act to be included on the country’s law books.
Durand made the remarks while delivering the feature address at an award ceremony at Fort Young Hotel on Saturday June 20, 2015.
The event was organized by the Concerned Citizens Movement (CCM) to honor six media houses and seven media workers in recognition and appreciation of their services to the country.
Durand spoke on the topic: The Role of Journalism in a Democracy.
“We depend now on the generosity and the good will of our political leaders to make themselves available to us when we require information about issues in the country for on-passing to the public,” he said.
According to the journalist and business man, the country may need to consider something at a legislative level that will facilitate that process.
“And my recommendation which is nothing new…I think there is need for us to consider the Freedom of Information Act.”
Now this Act, he explained allows the general public to have access to data held by national government.
“They (such Acts) establish a “right-to-know” legal process by which requests may be made for government-held information, to be received freely or at minimal cost, barring standard exceptions,” Durand explained.
He pointed out that these laws do not necessarily cover every organisation that receives public money such as certain charities and certain private sector organisations that perform public functions.
This legislation is presently in effect in over 100 countries globally which include four countries in the region-Trinidad and Tobago, Jamaica, Bermuda and the Dominican Republic.
He noted that when this act becomes effective, the role of the media practitioners is going to be simplified, “one thousand fold.”
However, “it is not the end of our problems,” he argued, adding that while it will not make all information available at the snap of a finger, it will be a great tool and asset to journalists, “to continue to promote and guard our democracy in this country.”
Meanwhile, Member of the CCM, Loftus Durand also added his voice in support of the Freedom of Information Act.
“ If we lend our voices, if we raise the bar, I believe that the Freedom of Information Act that has been eluding us for some time now will be a reality, by our progressive action in that direction.”
Steve Vidal, Kesha Nicholas, Felix Henderson, Carlise Jno Baptiste, Mathias Peltier Jr, Angelo Allen and Sherwin Norris were those awarded in the Media Workers category.
Dominica News Online (DNO), Voice of Life Radio, WICE Q95FM Radio, Digicel Play, the Chronicle newspaper and Kairi FM were the media houses that receive awards.
The CCM was established on March 23rd 2015 and aims to recognize those who have contributed meaningfully to the upliftment of the country.
Angelo of all persons getting award? Give me a break. What good has this guy done to elevate Dominica other than ill talk the entire country making the place look like a living hell to foreigners and investors.
Parry, I would advise Kamala to concern herself about raising the standard of her talk show and not awards. Matt has a similar show to hers and he has gone pass her in advertisements. For every ten advertisements on the Hot Seat, the Heng has only have one. More Dominicans listen to the Hot Seat, therefore, the commercial sector is putting its money where it hope to make more profits.
what a waste of time. the only persons that did not receive award was the janitors working at q95. I worder Y
Kamala is the best journalist in Dominica. She ask pertinent questions, able to communicate effectively,she makes comfortably listening unlike others. She could practice her trade anywhere in the world, unlike those other ‘journalist. I can sympathize as some people people would not comprehend what she is saying, simply because they only understand basic english, bef and gossip,but anthing which requires them to use their god given intelligence causes them all sort of problems.ring Why in heavens nameh would Karmal wish to be in the company of those wanabee ‘shock jocks’. She would be a thoroughbred amongst donkeys.
Kamala is no thoroughbred in journalism, she is a back of the hand journalist. Maybe, Kamala was a good journalist prior to the marrying of Aaron, but in recent times, she has become a propagandist of the DLP, I would say through no fault of her own. We must not forget who puts food on the table.
There are a few people in the part of the world I reside in who are no different. They do not appreciate intelligent conversations. It bores them. Some are not patient. They must also learn effective listening but first must be educated.
Kamala is the Opposite of Alamak, a well known chat site in Malaysia no less. Very funny.
Consistent with his declaration post his winning the last national elections that Dominica is a mature democracy – words to that effect, the convening of a FOI act would solidly compliment the PM’s assertion. There can be no alternate. We keep on believing that all we have to do is trust in the “goodness” of our leaders to good by out nation. Nothing is more at odds with the what government MUST do to properly nurture and nourish our fledgling democracy.
It’s a BLUE ting. Even the blind can see…. SMH….so much for freedom of the press.
Kamala she sound so frustrated just listen tomorrow
Kamala don’t deserve any award, she has no class, and very insulting to the people of Dominica,she called Salisbury hard working people vagabonds and hulligans and that’s a disgrace the world is listening, she’s an embarrassment to the radio station and Dominica.
Just imagine comparing yourself and your partner to Bonnie & Clyde, a known psychopath and outlaw. Very classy people.
Tim the last i know with the exception of Cabinet Minutes government information is public they even have the GIS…. i maybe miss your request on that Freedom Act
Amen!
I think for a media person, Kamala should know better than that. She has embarrassed other media workers. If the Government is having an awards committee and Kamala is on that committee I doubt she will recommend other honest media people who have worked and contributed towards Dominica’s development. Did you hear her on the Heng today.
Media workers are taken for granted in Dominica and its a fact. They are being used by all and sundry and when a group or someone tries to reward them in some way that is what they are getting from the other side of the fence. Awa No man. That is totally unfair. I have one word of caution for the group though and that is it should include some other persons from across the board because people are getting the feeling that it’s a political group. So to avoid that, I think the group should hand the awards segment to either MWAD or some other non partisan group and do the awards on an annual basis. I am extremely disappointed with Kamala. Come on!
Kamala – lacks understand and wisdom is nowhere near her. she is just too stupid to be real
I think people who give themselves awards are really sticking it to us Ego Tripers
You are not including P.M. Skerrit and his knighthood of the sacred order of St. George in that, are you? It only cost E.C.$500,000 of tax payers money in contribution to the restoration fund of the catholic cathedral.
Are you dreaming? Your motives are politically motivated. I have written blogs in favor of the Skerrit Administration and it is still waiting moderating. Then i will write a statement praising your ideology, the blog praising your views is published immediately. DNO you are the poster child for your party and not a new media. Your profiling and propagander isn’t news media standards. . Ethical standards and professionalism should be implemented first.
Admin: If what you say is true then one would be left to wonder why it is that we have approved this comment.
@professional
Before you post another comment, you need to familiarize yourself with the obligations of a national government (vis-a-vis the rights of the citizens to be informed) as opposed to the obligations of a private enterprise to provide information.
Shame haunt (Creole) That’s all Admin.
Admin, don’t waste your time to respond to this. Not worth it. Propagander indeed. LOL
To save face.Hey I would prove my point.
A-section-of-the-audience-at-the-awards-ceremony.jpg:
Is this lady in black with folded arm A B C D.uttless. the lawyer formr DFP wannbe leader? from Cousson-Delices?
Hip Hip horay! Tim! finally if it goes thru our posts can be freed up on DNO no long moderations or deleting or printing part of the post which changes the sense or does not make sense as the core portions are often omitted.
Veteran EXTREMLY CONSERVATIVE Journalist and the proprietor of Dominica News Online (DNO), Tim Durand, has renewed a call for a Freedom of Information Act to be included on the country’s law books.
Overdue Tim You took a very, very long time to free up your mind. In the days when you boarded and lodged at Copiel’s & at SMA you were more radical I guess as one grows he/she becomes more conservative despite knowing what’s right & wrong. Anyway cheers you finally grew the cojones. That’s a start.
I could not agree more. There is already a lot of distrust between the population and the government and FOI would help alleviate this. We have already seen the Government of Antigua publish data on its citizenship programme. It is time we see who is buying into the Dominican programme, what has been collected and where the money is going to. FOI will give us access to all of this data, but will the government allow it, I have my doubts.
I don’t understand Kamala on the Heng today. Was she expecting the group to give her an award? If I am not being recognized otherwise and I will hold my lip on this and some other concerned group is awarding me for my contribution toward society why should I not take it? Come on after all Kamala you of all persons should know better than that. I think as a media person you should know that. An the group did not give everyone in Q95 an award. I think you are looking too close. Let’s grow up in Dominica and leave the people alone.
I my name was submitted I would jolly well have taken the award too. It was not just journalists but media people in general.
This woman Kamala is a loose canon and a very dangerous mouthpiece of the DLP regime. She has not got even the most basic understanding of objective journalism. Infact, she is an extremely lousy radio presenter and she abuses her position at Kairi for unashamed DLP propaganda. Furthermore, more often than not she does not even know what she is talking about, just verbal diarrhoea at its best!
Wait!!! All that just to give Matt and Carlisle an award? Give me a break….
What wrong with camalal Jon-baptise Aaron
She is the best in the media in Dominica that committee is and UWP joke
I am living on England I list to all of then and no one can touch her
Well, the Distinguished Lord Augustus Ambrose of ENGLAND said that she “camalal” is the best, so that MUST be true. It is just rather unfortunate that the Distinguished Lord did not avail himself of a proper British education to lean to properly communicate the Queen’s English.
LOL! I’m enjoying the comments on this article the most; best since DNO was born.
Obviously Augustus, if you only listen to her you have no time to listen to others. So how can you form a judgment hmm?
Congratulations!
Congrats DNO! Outstanding Journalism
Tim is right. We must have laws which compel our governments to disclose matters in the public interest such as passport sales, fly by night crooks as ambassadors, the Malaysian remote control hospital, and the China MOU. Such freedom of information is a right in any civilized society. Good to see Tim/DNO honored and that Dominicans are organizing themselves to build civil society as a spur to a better nation.
Reading the names of a few of the recipients I am thinking really, are those people ‘journalists’, in the true sense of the word,because they certainly do not inform,educate,and entertain me. Maybe just maybe I set my standards too high and do not readily settle for mediocrity.
PS. Sorry, I meant to say that freedom of information and democracy go together like macaroni and cheese.
so kamal expect to get award after she try and drag the bishop belly on the road for trying to calm the salisbury matter? and further more her only guest on her program is a funny ambasador
I support this wholeheartedly, freedom of information goes together like macaroni and cheese. The situation now is intolerable, we are relying more on foreign sources to tell us what is going on inside Dominica than our own govt. is willing to disclose.
Getting information out of this government is virtually impossible. Everything is secret and on a need to know basis. Me as a citizen, I am asking how we can hold the government accountable if nothing is disclosed to the media and the electorate. i am absolutely flabbergasted how this country has allowed Skerrit & Co. to get away with it for over 15 years now. We can not go on like this. Things have to change and they have to change now. What I am afraid of is what we all will discover when this present government has finally been disposed. I sure we will discover things we did not even dream of in our wildest dreams. God help Dominica!
well said. All government information should be public.