In a milestone achievement for press freedom in the Caribbean, the Jamaican Parliament has approved a bill fully abolishing the offence of criminal defamation. Following a unanimous Senate vote in July, Jamaica’s House of Representatives on Nov. 5 passed the Defamation Bill 2013, which revamps the country’s libel legislation to better reflect international standards. The new […]

The Jamaican Senate on Friday unanimously passed a bill that would make the island nation the first in the Caribbean to abolish all forms of criminal defamation. The bill (Defamation Act 2013) would replace both the Libel and Slander Act (1851) and the Defamation Act (1961), which regulate criminal and civil defamation, respectively. Currently, those […]

Where in the Caribbean can journalists be sent to prison for doing their job? The answer: Everywhere. A comprehensive legal review conducted by the International Press Institute (IPI) confirmed that every independent state considered geographically or culturally part of the Caribbean maintains some form of criminal defamation that could result in imprisonment.   Of those 16 […]

The International Press Institue (IPI) today released a final report on its June mission to four Caribbean countries, cautiously welcoming progress in three of them toward the repeal of criminal defamation and insult laws but urging political leaders to remain committed to reform. During the nearly two-week long mission, IPI delegates met with representatives of government, […]