Press group incorporated,
ready to tackle media law
PHILIPSBURG--The newly incorporated St. Maarten Media Workers Association (SMWA) is ready to fight to protect press freedom and stand against the draft law currently before the Central Committee of Parliament that will subject the press to government scrutiny and fines.
Immediately after signing the incorporation document at the notary office of Schaepman & Speetjens on Friday, SMWA Interim President Alfred Harley said the law, if passed, “will bring an end to press freedom, one of the most fundamental liberties, which guards our society against injustice and inequality.”
He added, “While we may never know the motivation for such a law, we wish to point out that for hundreds of years our society has enjoyed two fundamental freedoms – freedom of speech and freedom of the press. If this law is passed, it will destroy the watchdog concept on which the media was founded and threaten free speech.”
The association has already sought an audience with St. Maarten parliamentarians William Marlin, Frans Richardson and Erno Labega, to seek support against “this threat.”
SMWA has already established a committee to peruse the draft law and submit a full report that will be disseminated to all media workers and will form the basis for discussions with parliamentarians.
Harley noted that at the heart of the draft law was the establishment of a media council for the Windward Islands, comprising non-active journalists. The council will have the authority to tell how media workers practise their profession, will also screen media houses and can impose fines of up to NAf. 25,000 for infractions of the law.
To further strengthen its stance, the association is also seeking the support of all media house owners and managers on the island.
“We believe that the existing law, as it stands, adequately guards against the misuse of free speech and free press, and rightly leaves judgment to the court,” Harley said. “While we agree that free press must not be misused by media professionals, we must strongly oppose any attempts to limit that freedom.”
SMWA was established to protect the rights, freedom and responsibilities of the press to the general public and to provide training and support for people in the profession. The interim board comprises Harley, secretary Duane Robin of Today newspaper, and treasurer John van Kerkhof and assistant secretary Judy Fitzpatrick of The Daily Herald.
A group of journalists had formed the St. Maarten Journalist Association with similar goals about three years ago, but after a lengthy period of its being silent, its members voted on Saturday, September 8, to dissolve it. At the same time, those members, along with other media professionals, agreed to the formation of SMWA, an association that offers support to all who actively contribute to the dissemination of news on the island.
All media workers not yet SMWA members are encouraged by the interim board to contact Robin for information about joining the association.
