The government is looking at existing legislation on how the media in Dominica operates to ensure what is being reported is correct, Information Minister Kelvar Darroux has said.
He told Focus on Government and Development Radio Program when the exercise is completed, there will be a difference in how information is disseminated on the island.
“Really and truly you may have information and if that information is not properly reproduced and sent out, then you may have difficulties,” he stated. “We are looking at the some of the legislation to guide the process…”
Darroux noted that certain things said in the media can have a negative impact on listeners.
“A lot of time you may listen to certain talk shows, that sort of thing whatever the case may be, and people just say things out of their minds,” he said. “Information going out there doesn’t only stay here and if you send out the wrong information you can have a negative impact on some of the listeners out there.”
Darroux stated that information sent out by the media “has to be critically looked at.”
“That is to say that what you plan to send out there, you have to ensure that it is censored, you have to ensure that it is not just saying what you want but you have the facts and at the end of the day, the listener ship or the viewership, if is via television, they get the right information because sending out the wrong information can have drastic consequences,” he remarked.
The Information Minister said the media on the island has the responsibility to ensure that the correct information is disseminated.
“If you are not sure as to what the facts are, you as a media practitioner has the responsibility to do you research, to get the facts and to send out your story,” he said.
I dare this Labour Party Government to try it!
Remember, Kelver, that attempting to bridle the press was one of the two moves which saw the downfall of the Dominica Labour Party in 1979. I hate to think that the same DLP is going down the same old slippery slope! Take warning, my friend!
After learning that her French subjects lacked bread to eat, a staple of the French diet in 1789, Marie Antoinette, the queen of France uttered these famous words, “Let them eat cake.” This statement was the straw that broke the camel’s back. She eventually lost her head during the French Revolution.
It’s a shame when the Prime Minister sends out one of his “Puppet Ministers” in Kelvar Darroux to speak pure foolishness in public. Enacting this legislation is tantamount to inciting an uprising. Then again, nothing may indeed transpire as the masses have been put to sleep by Skerrit and his cohorts.
When things get out of control, they will simply fly away on their private jet and leave the masses to figure out their own misery and calamity.
“In the land of the blind, one-eye Jack is King.”
First our bread from our mouths, now our freedom of speech! What else can the government possible take away from us again?!
I meant to say *possibly
I hope Kelvar Darroux is talking ONLY about statistical information and NOT about oppinions. I would advise the young, inexperienced politician to make this distinction. Censorship of the media is totally undemocratic but WHOLLY dictatorial.
Am not sure, but I do believe that kelvin Darrow does not know the meaning of censorship. I think he may have made a genuine mistake when he said that the information had to be censored before dissemination. I think I wanted to day that the information had to make sens. So thinking along that line he threw the word censor out there. To whom must it make sense, who should like it,when will it be ready for public consumption, who is going to ensure or who wants to ensure that it is accurate. In any case there are laws for redressed should anyone feel aggrieved.
Another fancy way of saying “Press Censorship.” What is happening to Dominica? Is it becoming a dictatorship?
Press censorship is the first step to dictatorship. Very precarious situation. Skerrit is playing with fire.
It is amazing that a government that spewed a whole bunch of lies during the recently concluded election is now concerned about information coming from the media. I will say this: we are heading down a very slippery slope. Those who do not respect history are bound to make the same mistakes. If we continue this path blood will spill in that country. Let people decide whether they want to listen to facts or fiction.
Shaka Zulu has one warning for young Darroux. Becarefull of that seeds you sow. May be a thorny bush.
What!!! Is this minister losing his mind? This is not China or North Korea! Dominica is a democratic country. The truth hurts right??
De country nice boy ! I like it, I really that, I like it.
Time to stop talking. TIME FOR ACTION PEOPLE !!!
Those of you who live in the USA need to contact your Congressmen and Senators. Let them look into any foreign aid/assistance Dominica is receiving from the USA, express your concerns about dictatorship and corruption.
Those of you in Canada, UK and else where contact your gov’t reps in those place.
This to raise hell, let the world know what is taking place in Dominica…..shine the light on this people. TIME FOR ACTION !!!
When media is censored, it can easily be used to manipulate the public. It is bias because it is media that is controlled by the government, which means it is only news that the government will allow us to know. Everyone has a right to know the truth about what is going on in their country and around the world.
Those who put this gentleman in this position, for which he is clearly not suited should have censored what he had to say before he spoke to the press. Those who know of the PJ era (The Shut Your Mouth Act) should tell him that no one will muzzle Dominicans. He should read the Dominica Constitution and the protection it provides to Freedom of Expression. The Court is there to provide the appropriate redress for those who are agrieved by anything said about them that is untrue, unjust or malicious. Please be fore-warned.
please do not push the people’s backs against the wall.
It’s called freedom of speech. Ever heard of it ?
yes man, that will be the death of our calypso, imagine that!!
I knew all this would happen. Little by little, drip by drip. Skerrit is working very hard to get total control of the country in true ‘Putin style’. He needs to be stopped. Why did all your red voters not listen before the election and see the writing on the wall???
I have one question: Can the government sensor itself particularly after the nasty political campaign? Imagine when both parties was called in by an organization comprising of priest and pastors to tone down the language during the campaign it was not adhered to by the DLP. Now, what does the minister wants to do again? Well, sir if religious people cannot keep your party members tongue in check I guess you have glass windows and should not throw stones.
This has to be condemned NOW! This is a very slippery slope and the minister must immediately take this back and apologize to the Dominica people. Anyone with a brain cell knows what this is about – you CANNOT muzzle the people. If you proceed with this – the consequences will be on your conscience and the blood on your hands. DONT DO THIS !!!
DNO your days are numbered. Articles that support Kevlar isn’t publish but over and over you have published articles that has diminished the character of Mr. Darroux, Your form of Gutter and YELLOW journalism will soon be over. Mr.. Grell I want Kleve to clean St. Joe because he will get rid of the infested pest like you and your UWP operatives who has use the St. Joe people as your political scapegoat. I am from St. Joe and you need to clean under you MMMM bed first. I love my Pal Rep. DNO take pride in the articles you publish, over and over you and your operatives have portrayed St. Joe in a derogative and deceitful manner. Enough of you DIRTY POLITICS.
What a bad EXAMPLE of a comment!
Dear Sir/Madam, your comments are very ironic. Do you realize that under Kevlar* Darroux they would be censured and sanitised?
* And before you comment, yes I spelled that name deliberately so. Make of it what you want.
These Guys are getting influenced by China there is no doubt in my mind of this,My Mother always said”If you lie down with Dogs You will get up with fleas” or “show me your friends I will tell you who you are” The media is tightly controlled in China and I tired hear Skeritt call them His Friend
The article practically quotes Mr. Darroux how is this bad journalism ?You are blind sided Mr. Bad example .please read the article and apologies to DNO
because you keep singing for your supper and only think about yourselves. you self have to turn against your parl rep…how long, not long……….when the truth is told you all hate it………dominica is going down under. if the censor the media I will get people to help portray what places dominica is……….
I mean i am sitting here and i am really thinking of what Kelver Darroux said and i am really trying to make sense of every word and sentence , like censored, not properly reproduced and sent out, then you may have difficulties,” I mean does he really know the meaning of these words and what it means in a free country? So Kelver you are telling me that before i call the radio station to voice my opinion i have to call you and let you know what i am going to talk about first ? and then you will say yes or no to me? or are the shows going to be pre- taped and then they will send it to your committee and then they will decided if it will be aired , and then all you can take forever to decided ? you mean work you don’t have to do Kelver ?Haven’t ever listen to Matt and the rest of the host on Q95 ? guess not .Kelver they usually disconnect the callers when they are getting out of hand , they are the ones Kelver who are responsible for censorship not you nor the…
OK UWP, DFP , PAPPITES and non-partites, time to start planing in preparation for when the so called muzzle-legislation is passed. PJ tried the same thing in 1979 and we all know what happened. Recently Dr. Peters spoke out against calypso and Mervin Paul castigated two honorable gentlemen for nonsense.
This was actually the prelude of what is to come. Get ready to stand against any attempt by government to silence the masses because they know the country is going to hell in a hand basket and people will speak. That is a page from Mudaro’s book but unlike Venezuela we in Dominica will NEVER be silenced by those with dictatorial tendencies because a free media is essential in every democratic society. When the media is silenced the voice of the people cannot be heard. Mwen parway! Es ou parway?
So to Kelvar and the DLP bunch, go ahead and make our day
Assertive, NOT Aggressive!
Why would The Government want to pass legislation “to guide” media, this is such a dangerous proposal, on the other hand The Minister is correct when he says quote “the media on the island has the responsibility to ensure that the correct information is disseminated.” Let us not ignore such problem exist in the Country. The solution to such problem is the people, they should challenge The Media and hold them accountable reminding them of their responsibility in disseminating information. It is also the duty of the Media guild to make sure that their members act in a professional manner adhering to the code of ethics to which they must abide to. It should also be remembered The media can be the right arm of anarchy if not confronted.
Is that the same Kelver Darroux who stood on a political platform prior to elections with a tablet held high over his head and said that 7500 of them would be delivered to schools?
Election is over Kelver,Skeritt should stop using you to do …..work.this is typical of parties that stay in office for more than 2terms
OMG the momo talking! It seems that the DLP, and some Dominicans, have “memwey poul”; (fowl brain). It was in 1979 that a DLP led government attempted to censure the press and the result is history ask Dr. Lennox Honeychurch. Mr Min of Information i dare you and members of your (Deception Lies and Propaganda) DLP administration to go ahead with that foolish piece of legislation. You promised since 2000 to be the transparent Govt; put in place legislation obligating your Govt to report and make public, to the people every bit of transaction and travel that this administration undertakes on behalf of the citizens of Dominica both before and after you undertake any such transactions and travel. Until such time “Shut The Hellllllll UP”.
You see what some young people getting themselves in? In 2015 Darroux and his DLP Govttrying to muzzle, garg, put a padlock on the patriots mouths?
Don’t those ever learn any lessons at all? all over the world citizens are protesting, voicing their concerns against such Gov’t madness, that of press censorship. What problem Darroux, Skerritt and his DLP Gov’t trying to put in this peaceful Land? Don’t we have enough corruption all ready?
Control of GIS, DBS. Chronicle newspaper they buy. We know why. DSS forced into purchasing WRB shares in MARPIN. MARPIN Board comprising DLP operatives only. KAIRI FM, Vibes radio on their side.
Only Q95 independent, yet they fear the Free expression of the people. Darroux, Skerritt, DLP, just try taking away the Right to speak, write, sing freely and foolishly talk of censorship. Face the wrath of the oppressed Dominicans. Dictatorship will not reign in our Nature Isle.
Kelvar agin clean st.joe build bathrooms and toilets for the poor.am waiting on tou too start fixing the road you promised,freedom of press dude,advise to you dont start what you cant finish.and eat some more,your looking malnouished.
You have used DNO is a source of your dirty politicking. On December 8th we voted for Kelva, if you were any human being you would not be austiciding people who are less fortunate. Grell, you are a disgrace to society and to the HUMAN race. That is typical of you and your party..
Do u have a brain I’m ur head or are u that stupid
go and tell kelver instead of trying to hide the truth go with his brother Kenneth and try to sort out the mess at PMH because people are dying. when you go in chances to be out are low. he needs to stop this game n focus on the healthcare……..
Is Kelver Darroux looking for work to do? He hasn’t got enough to do in his ministry? Then close his ministry down.
There is an old saying “show me your friends and I will tell you who/what you are”
These are amongs’t the PM’s friends, China, Cuba, Venezuela, Morocco, Qaddafi (now dead). I’m surprised he has not tried Iran. Any free press allowed by these guys? I rest my case
Zaboca, you forget Azerbijan, where the authorirtarian leader Ilham Aliyev inherited the mantel from his father, conducted fraudulent elections and introduced censure of the press. Roosevelt Skerrit visited there in August of 2011 and they even sent a delegation here. I’m sure DNO reported on that. Does that remind you of the old proverb about birds of a feather….?
Please Dominicans,
Do at least have a look and click on this link.
Let this give you an insight into the fight against censorship of the media.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/news/media-censorship/
Gr-ell you need to mind your dirty business. Tell the young men and women in St. Joe they need to utilize the vast estate their parents and grandparents willed them. The young people who sit and wait for barrel from their overseas family, they need to be educated or till the land like our parents did! You can lead the horse but you cannot make it drink the water. Dominica is poor, therefore St. Joe is poor and I would not trade my place of birth poor St. Joe for nothing in the world. Take you advice and sub ######## it!
This is a sign of a government in decline,once it starts to want to control the free expression of the media and its people. In the USA the Republican party and Fox news put out all kinds of falsehoods and no one is seeking to control or curtail their free speech. With the advent of social media then it is more difficult to seek to want to meddle with people’s free speech.Therefore I’m warning this minister and his government not to seek to repeat the sad events of 1979 on the Dominican people in their failures. The government itself is known to tell falsehoods to the nation,so who will punish them when they tell lies in the future.Please stop it now.
When did we become the People’s Republic of Dominica? Karl Marx, the great politicL theorist, is credited for saying “history repeats itself, first as a tragedy, second as a farce. And this statement by the Honourable Information Minister about his government wishing to “guide media” is nothing but a hypocritical and dangerous farce. Our people need to wake up and smell the Red Rose Tea that is being brewed. First it was the Minister for Justice and National Security who said a few weeks ago that the laws of Dominica were being revised. That same month after making that statement he pronounced “unlawful protests will not be tolerated”. Now they want to enact legislation to “guide media” Wake up my people and smell the Red Rise Tea!
Doesn’t the “Constitution” already take care of that? Aren’t laws on the books providing redress for libel and slander through the courts sufficient to address this issue?
Kelvar needs to focus more on St. Joseph and its surrounding environment.
Thanks, Kelvar and I applauded you for taking a stand. The PM has been called every name under the sun, yes it is high time that people own and show other people respect.
Excuse me partner but I have nobody in public life call someone a bastard but the P.M. himself. Put that in your pipe and smoke it.
Who the hell is Skerrit that people cannot say what they want about him, call him by any name they chose. Idiots like you revere Skerrit like a god when he has no respect for himself. He is only human, on a stage that idiots like you put him, his show is redundant. In any event when he muzzle the press, his next victim will be people like you. He will dictate how many time per day you should eat
In the 1950’s, about 70 years ago when Castro was identified a communist he denied it, claiming he was for democracy, and he was fighting for the rights of the poor and common Cuban, hence he overthrew Batistta , and then he turned on the people who fought in his revolution, he killed thousands of Cubans, such are people Skerrit loves and admires, that is why he was in Cuba screaming like a squirrel, ” the United States must lift the embargo on Cuba,” not knowing Obama said he would have done that way back in 2008. The one who is a god to you is nothing to others.
Confucian is the ideal of social order to the Stalinist model of an authoritarian communist state to create the world deepest information void. In that all domestic radio, television, and news papers are controlled by the government. Radio and Television receivers are locked to government specified frequencies.
Hence what the government wish the citizens to hear, the content is supplied entirely by the government. That is goal of Skerrit and his puppet government. Anytime communism or socialism which is actually a form of communism is about to succeed, one of the first move of the junta is censorship of the free press. The rhetoric of that little moumou, nobody is simply a way of informing the nation that junta Skerrit is about to muzzle the free press, thus the people will not be informed of the corruption which exists in his government.
Watch out calypsonians, and you talk show host, unless you urge the people to rise against Skerrit’s dictatorship, and get him out by force…
This young man wants to improve media but speaks of information…Good luck pal…This may be the beginning of the end….
The minister is confused. The right to self expression is guaranteed under our constitution, and he might be implying that fact checking be done by publishers before broadcast and circulation. When it comes to censorship, does he mean censorship by government? Control of the press is ownership of the press – that’s unacceptable!
Dominica Labor Party has a history of malice against de media and the citizens of Dominica’s right to information.
De hush your mouth bill caused de demise of de popular PM Patrick John.
History is repeating it ugly nasty head in our beautiful nature isle once again.
De hush your mouth bill caused de downfall of de DLP.
This new attempt by another Dominica labor party in Government will cause history to repeat itself.
Roosevelt Skerrit has just started putting nails in his own coffin.
Kelvar Darroux!!!! History will not be to kind to you!!
Seriously partner, like Seriously!!!!! A country that is in a spiraling decline instead for your government to find ways to stop the slide you want to shut up Q95. They should name the legislation the Q95 shut your mouth bill. Instead for all you to be more open and transparent all you want to continue to hide. But remember that is the diaspora that put all you back in office all you better have the millions to send for them to defend all you when all you get what all you asking for.
Wow, what frivolous a perception.
I meant to say what a frivolous perception you got.
Gary it is my perception that you like to play with words; not know when you are using the English Language inappropriately. Note: to perceive could mean (a result of perceiving; or observation, and that could be a mental image or concept, consciousness or awareness of the elements of environment, through physical sensation interpreted in the light of one experience.
Frivolous simply means having no sound basis, as in fact or law, and learn this: lacking in seriousness, marked by unbecoming levity. In other words a total waste of time. Say I told you!
I kindly suggest that the President of Dominica remind the young minister of what happened the last time a Government tried that stunt on the people. Back then it was called changes to the “Libel and slander ordinances” and one of the clauses read as follows:
“An Editor of a newspaper shall not publish in his newspaper an article which directly or indirectly offers criticism of any person in his professional or official capacity or which ascribes to any person conduct which may have the effect of lowering that person in the estimation of others unless the article carries an indication at the top therefore as to whether the article is a political or other commitment or purports to factual together with the actual name of the correspondence or writer of the article.”
https://dominicanewsonline.com/news/homepage/news/general/day-past-may-29-1979/
Deja Vue. Ask President Charles Saverin, former Secretary General of the CSA and Louis Benoit former General Secretayr of the DAWU.
When will we ever learn.
DLP making Karl Marx proud, communism, communism, communism, more poverty and more wealth in the hands of a select few,
mista cannot do dat. dominicans like to pound beff. DNO organise a protest march!
No one should underestimate the seriousness of this threat to the independence of the media. And this threat is especially serious, coming on the heels of the last general elections.
Throughout the past couple of years, those with keen ears have heard subtle warnings and threats from spokesmen for the government, most recently, the minister of national security, Raburn Blackmore, who stated that government would not tolerate a 1979 situation. This is as open a threat as could be made by a sitting government that is mindful of the potential response from the population to government overreach, and the likely response if citizens decide that enough is enough.
For the government to go out of its way to unsettle the population with threats, both subtle and overt, suggests that the intent is bully the population into submission on the heels of the last election.
Should anyone be surprised? Is this not what dictators do?
Those who failed to heed the call for a change og governmentmust…
hmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm
Offcourse there is a need for setting standards in the media but this move to suppress the media is foolish and out of sink. The DLP is further putting nails in its coffin. Let the people speak. Be honest and true. Let integrity be the dLP watchword. Be open and transparent. What we need is a freedom of information act
And that is the reason, if I were a DLP supporter, I would not have voted for the party. That is what happens when a party stays in power for too long. They start taking people for granted and start behaving as if the place belongs to them. They no longer consider themselves public servants, but little dictators in the making.
That is nothing new. We have seen it time and time again all over the world.
My advice to Mr. Skerrit is to be careful, be very careful. We have seen this play before and the ending was not good for DLP. But as I aid in a previous post, one these guys stay in power too long then tend to self-destruct. That is just how it is.
I noticed there are couple of persons on here giving thumbs up to statement made by this communications minister.
I urge you to please do a little reading or searching, I am not asking you to go into extensive research to find out why you should not support a move. I shall give you guys a helping hand with this link below.
http://www.debate.org/opinions/should-the-national-government-censor-the-media-in-order-to-protect-the-public
There is already legislation in place to deal with this… libel and slander act.. if something reported wrong, go to the court… we live in a democracy!!!
The sad thing is once someone accuses you falsely it can be detrimental. Once said, some people will believe it. Depending of what it is both your home life and employment could be affected.
Look what is around us. If you have children and his or her schoolmates spread false rumours about your child and your child comes home hurt and depress and never wants to leave his or her bedroom even for meals; we know there is a big problem. The liars may think it fun but the individual who the lies were spoken about could carry this all through adulthood. And the results could affect society later on.
It is imperative the media does its homework before allowing untruths to spread. Lead by example. We all are privileged in Dominica with Freedom of Speech. But where is the line drawn when your Freedom of Speech affects my well being? We both have our rights, isn’t that so?
Advertisers pull off their advertisement from the network and all hell broke loose.
The last line in the previous post was about a newscaster who resigned his job because he was less that honest with his employers and viewers when found out, advertisers started to pull off their business with the network.
1. And what your PM said about Dr IP in parliament.
2. What he said about Monel,
3. Wwhat he said about Lennox and the UWP cancelling NEP program,
4. What he said about the Tablets
5, What he said about Lennox leaking his personal info, send police to search the man home he
then says that he authorized Tony Astaphan to disclose the info after Lennox opined that it was
Tony who leaked the info
6. What he said about no law or constitution can stop him doing what he wants
7. what he said about his mansion in Vielle Caisse costing $400,000 ETC ETC ETC you get the
message
The sad thing is…the media workers association isn’t active and strong…so the gov’t sees an open space to continue exploitation. At what point does support of party stop, and limits of government begin. Come on Dominicans…you have to care about this!
Delver, you doing your master’s bidding again? For over two hundred years the established church banned the work of Copernicus who said that the earth was not the center of the universe but that it went round the sun. We don’t want a Mao in Dominica nor a Gospel according to Skerrit like Mao’s little red book. I will rather leave Dominica without a penny and ask U.S.A. for political asylum before that happen.
This labor party is looking for a repeat of 1979 trust me on this one. I will be ready to fight for the freedom of expression and information in my beloved country. I will have my own group to fight this insane legislation,either by bullets or flesh.
Good God
Do you have any experience in the field that you are responsible for Darroux. Wash your foot and come government. What a big joke
This is not happening, this is not happening. How can the government even make such a statement. You Dominicans are really dancing with danger right about now. As for this minister of communication, this is what happens when Dominicans put responsibility into the hands of total novices.
For once I am totally lost for words, Totally. What more can I say other than Dominica is sleep walking to a failed and controlled state. I mean is there anything more to say when this guy talks about controlling the Media to any extent.
There are enough laws on the books to safeguard against libel and defamation.
This initiative, if it gets off the ground, could be a back door effort to muzzle the press, in much the same way Patrick John and Leo Austin tried to muzzle the pressin 1979.
We all know what happened back then. The only difference between now and then was that we had a more vigilant citizenry then compared to now when every one seems to be on the take and could care less less about noble principles such as freedom of the press.
Nonetheless, Skerrit would be playing Russian roulette if he tries restict press freedom in the name of…call it what you want. I dare him to play around with the last remaining freedom the people enjoy and cherish. Go ahead, Skerro, let’s see how bold and desrespectful you are of the people’s cherished liberty.
May be that’s what you need to do to really test the mettle of seemingly docile Dominicans. Go ahead, and make our day.
Aye aye Darroux does that include blogging on DNO? Boy boy boy!!! These are the times when voicing of opinions and freedom of expressions are coming underattack. Back to days of oppression and fighting for those civil rights which were handed to us on a golden platter by our forefathers.
Media Censorship! Madness!
16 comments under this and 0 under the article concerning the understanding between a Guadeloupe hospital and PMH. roro alone Dominicans like.
@ really? because freedom of expression and freedom of speech are very important too , all over the world people are dying for those two civil rights. Didn’t you watch the news over the weekend ?People in America and the rest of the world were celebrating 50 years of SELMA, Do you know what that means? Celebrating the fight for FREEDOM , The Hospital issue we will get to it later. These are basic things that the government must do , that’s the promises they made and people voted them in to take care of the basic needs. It’s their job.
Does that arrangement include eradication of Pinez and termites at PMH lol
Sorry, but this is far more important that a possible agreement with Guadeloupe about medical care. If you have no freedom of expression your mind gets sick and your soul dies anyway.
Obviously includes you!!!
you are one that is a communist,the pmh is infested with bed bugs so patients need a place to go,freedom of the press is 1 priority and Kelvar needs to clean st.joseph first.
Those who ignore History are doomed to repeat it. In the late 70s, the New Chronicle printed unflattering cartoons of PJ and his administration. As a result, the LABOR Party administration on May 29th, 1979 walked into parliament to table a piece of legislation aimed at curtailing what the media could and could not say. The rest my friend, is history. There is already laws that deal with that called Tort.
It is about time. It is an embarrassment what the media has gotten to in Dominica. Also a shame that the people of Dominica cannot rely on the media for FACTS. The media has turned into a beff and mal parlay source and real Jerry Springer kind of thing. NO media person should be worried with this new legislation if they know what they are reporting is truthful. They will only be worried because they know all the nonsense and lies they have been feeding the public. It is about time the media people take their jobs serious and be a lot more professional. Great idea Minister Kelvar Darroux.
@ My 2cents which is all you worth. I hope you are also referring to Kari , DBS also
Really…? Please rephrase: It should read: “I think it is a shame and an embarrassment what this DLP government has gotten to in Dominica,”
Kelvar go clean up the DLP government dirty lining before you talk about media and censorship.!!!!
May 29th 1979 seem to be about to repeat itself (Now let me see you censor this statement)
Your 2 cents is exactly what it is, nonsense.
When a government chooses to censor the media, it is clear that they have much to hide, so as you are so sure about your quote “NO media person should be worried with this new legislation if they know what they are reporting is truthful”, you might have convinced me of your impartiality by also being concerned of the potential for the government to abuse the law to the detriment of even you.
If you don’t have a free press, you don’t have a free society. Not only does government have no business whatsoever regulating the media, there shouldn’t even be an “Information Minister”. No, media shouldn’t maliciously report misinformation, but that’s what libel suits are for. This should be steadfastly opposed!
Steve, I once told you while you were supporting the reelecting of Skerrit to run Dominica; if he was reelected, he would ride you like a donkey. That was a metaphor, I did not mean he would ride you personally.
Nevertheless, this is only the beginning of things to come; the worst is yet to come. The man believes he is God gift to Dominica, but everything he does in the country hurts people, yet they keep accepting money and food from that man in exchange for their X.
How stupid can a nation be? The man gave thousands of free tickets to people to return home to vote. While at the airport, their song was “ten more years.” They help put him back to screw the country Dominica and left. The best new legislation should be prohibiting himself from providing with free ticket. And if he denies that he did, I well not only call him a damn liar, but I might name some people who got free tickets.
“Steve, I once told you while you were supporting the reelecting of Skerrit to run Dominica”
I did no such thing. I realise you think I’m a “big labour man” because I don’t spend all day talking about how Skerrit is the devil like most opposition supporters do, but if you’d actually looked at (and understood) all of my comments about Dominican politics, you would see that I’m not partisan.
Kelvar shut the hell up get the young men in St.Joseph work to do,a once thriving community you annSkerrit has turned it to a begging community,the media gives us information on all the corruption,the last time i checked dominica was a free speech country,start working on fixing the bybasss road from layou to st.joe and stop bein Skerrit donkey fool,be a man and stand up for you village,St, Joe has lost all its pride.if you have the testicular fortitude stand up to the slave master that your boss.
Grell we don’t need your dirty 2 cent. Leave St. Joe people alone we are happy in our poverty. They have a lot of land, let them plant.
it has begun, kelvar i hope you referring to the guys on ….spouting nonsense day in, day out smfh
Yes ahhhhh look ,,, matt peltier, c. johnbaptiste, angelo, look out soon u wont be able to break news on the radio without the approval of the government eh…..
are you serious?
no matter how much the talk shows and media sensationalism irritates me, I think Dominicans should take a serious look at that possible legislation before it goes any where.
Very good initiative Honourable Minister. I was reading recently that someone made a statement in the media involving three well known people.
Apparently a prominent media house took the person’s statement and broadcast it on their show. What happened next? The three individuals have sued both the person who made the statement and the media house that allowed the information to be broadcast. The reason? It caused the three individuals discomfort and stress and what have you to themselves, family and business.
Now the gentleman who initial made the untrue statement said he did it for fun and never expected an important media house like that to repeat his statement. But the individuals were extremely hurt by the untrue statements made and the media house apparently did not try to learn the truth before rebroadcasting for the world to know. The parties involved were asked to apologize.
So I support Government’s initiative because we know it happens in Dominica…
Why should the government get involved when the matter was dealt with by the civil courts as it should.
Government does not have to be in every nook and cranny of your life.
Dominica has healthy, existing slander- & libel legislation to deal with that. I really do not think that in a healthy, vibrant democracy such a move will only stifle the rights bestowed on us under the constitution at independence. It would be a retrograde step.
Darroux and the Labour government , thank you for trying to take away freedom of expressions and freedom of speech. You know exactly which talk shows and radio station you talking about and whom you referring too , so don’t come and talk parables, people not stupid , well at least not your supporters. But try as you may it will not work. The world is evolving Darroux , You should work on all the promises you made during the election campaign, exp: the New Hospital should be in phase two now. Those Tablets should have been distributed already and so onnnnnn. Every rope has and end .
Seems the cap fit you man!
@ DEAL or No DEAL ,Hope is not you that wear it . Sort.
Just a few points:
(1) I recall quite vividly some time back when Patrick John and Leo Austin wanted to pass legislation to muzzle the press. Our dear current president was at the forefront to make sure we preserved press freedom. I am hoping he will be the first to guard against any moves my the present government to curtail those freedoms.
(2) Slander and libel should be treated as civil matters. There is no place for criminal charges for disseminating false information. Just this morning I read an article where people are being prosecuted in Iran for just that reason. We do not want to go down that road.
(3) Assuming this story is accurately reported, I think the minister should brush up on his English grammar, particularly as it related to plural words. You cannot be talking about use of language when you have so much difficulty in properly articulating your words.
One can only wonder if He remembers that heroic stance then or if His memory is now clouded by the trappings of current office?
Wait- I am not sure why this guy is saying or where he is going with this. Is this the beginning of media freedom in Dominica? Mr. MP you may be backing up a tree you can’t climb in the end. Please leave well enough alone- just a word to the wise Sir.
This is a very dangerous development. We may well end up where everything has to be vetted before it can be published. That would be censorship. How are you going to control social media from overseas? Is Dominica going to follow China? We do have laws for slander and libel, why not use them? Will the bar association remain moumou again? I pray for my poor country.
Honourable Darroux, what did you eat the day before you made this contribution? What EVIDENCE do you have that WRONG information is being disseminated to the public? And, more importantly, what do you mean with the use of the word “censured”? Is it, sir, that this is an attempt to stiffle/prevent freedom of expression or criticism of your government? I sincerely hope not.
HOTEP!
This is a frightening proposal. In a democracy, there is freedom of the press, any acceptance of legislation to “guide” the media can lead to censorship and information control. These are tactics that are commonly employed by people seeking to impose autocratic rule (dictatorship). Reference the former Soviet Union, China, Napoleon, and the Third Reich (Nazis), among many others in history. Wake up Dominicans!!! Your democracy is at stake.
The ramblings of a ….. “A lot of time you may listen to certain talk shows, that sort of thing whatever the case may be, and people just say things out of their minds,” he said. “Information going out there doesn’t only stay here and if you send out the wrong information you can have a negative impact on some of the listeners out there.”
I rest my case.
it should be government is going to put legislation to muzzle media…
no media figure can question or have a dialogue with the prime minister which is impromptu or not staged. the prime minister cannot answer any hard questions
so this legislation is about making the media report what the politicians wants them to report.