The Press Association of Jamaica (PAJ) has been invited by the new Government to be part of a committee to be set up to review current legislation governing libel laws.

Desmond Richards, president of the PAJ, made the disclosure while addressing the launch of the Jamaica National (JN) Photo Competition, Youth Zoom on Thursday at the National Gallery in downtown Kingston.

"I want to acknowledge (the Government), on behalf of the Press Association of Jamaica and on behalf of working journalists, for taking the first step in the right direction," he said.

Mr. Richards said the current legislation has obstacles preventing the media from doing its work effectively.

"We are saying that, in the 21st century today, somebody in Jamaica can be sent to jail for the written or spoken word and we are saying that is a disgrace," he pointed out.

He said the PAJ and working journalists are advocating for the removal of these criminal libel laws.

Abolition of Secrets Act

Richards also said the media fraternity wants the abolition of the Official Secrets Act.

"That Act is used to muzzle public servants who are privy to information and we are putting on record that we want that Act to be abolished," he insisted.

The Official Secrets Act has been on the law books since 1911. Under this legislation, civil servants can be prosecuted for divulging classified information obtained during their service.

Despite steps made by the previous Government to allow members of the public access to information related to decisions made by Government, through the establishment of the Access to Information Act, that administration had failed to make good on its promise to repeal the Official Secrets Act.

The Jamaica Labour Party when in Opposition had called for the removal of the Act and had said, if elected to office, it would introduce whistle-blower legislation to promote open government.