Prime Minister Bruce Golding has directed an 12-member committee to undertake a comprehensive review of the Libel and Slander Act.

At a meeting with the committee at Jamaica House, Mr. Golding reiterated that the legislation should be updated to better allow the press greater freedom to present information that is important to the public.

He said that too often, the law has been used, "as a firewall to protect scoundrels, and there are times when media representatives have been on to something that is important to be brought to the attention of the country, and they are stopped in their tracks..."

Individuals rights

Nevertheless, the Prime Minister said the committee should be mindful of the fact that individuals do have rights and reputations that have to be protected. "Therefore, I am asking you to do what is a really difficult task, which is to ensure that you open that window to the public, to know what is happening, to have the benefit of the information, without at the same time exposing individuals or corporate persons to unjust, unfair and malicious publication," he said.

Mr. Golding urged the committee to see how the rights of the individual can be harmonised with the greater public right to information.

The committee, which is chaired by Justice Hugh Small, comprises: Oliver Clarke, Lester Spaulding, Shirley Miller, Desmond Richards; David Coore, David Batts, Jermaine C. Spence, John Vassell, Walter H. Scott, Neville James and Patrick Bailey.