June 25, 2010

Mr. Byron Buckley
President
Press Association of Jamaica
c/o The Gleaner Company
7 North Street
Kingston

Dear Byron,

I write on behalf of the MAJ to extend support and full endorsement for the positions articulated on World Press Freedom Day in May seeking a review of the laws that would criminalize Jamaican reporters for photographing a person charged with a criminal offence, a person in custody or in the precincts of a court.

 It is a crying shame on our media freedom that a story of major public interest (the arrest, court hearing and extradition of Christopher Cooke) is being covered with greater ease and civility outside Jamaica.

While journalists were being blocked, hindered, deceived and restricted in filming and photographing this process, we were a few hours later embarrassed to see how US media were able to freely photograph, shout questions and get an answer from Christopher Coke.

The MAJ joins your call for these approaches and laws to be modernized so that media can serve the public’s best interest without these official hindrances.

Yours very truly,
MEDIA ASSOCIATION JAMAICA LIMITED
 
Gary Allen
Chairman
cc.  All Media