Parliament hears mixed
reactions to media law
PHILIPSBURG--Media workers of the Windward Islands differ in opinion concerning the draft media law, it proved Wednesday during a meeting on the proposed law with the Central Committee of Parliament in Dr. A.C. Wathey Legislative Hall.
St. Maarten Media Workers Association (SMWA), representing workers in the print media, radio and television, advised Parliament to put the draft media law in the shredder, but several independent TV producers seemed far less critical.
Minister Omayra Leeflang wants to establish two media councils: one for the Windward Islands and one for Bonaire and Curaçao. The main task of these councils will be the establishment of a code for advertising and a code of conduct for journalism. The councils also will have to deal with complaints about advertising and journalistic behaviour.
The board is to consist of an independent president and four other members who will be recommended by radio broadcasters, print media, TV broadcasters, and advertisers.
SMWA was the most vocal in its criticism of the draft media law, putting forward several objections and concerns. SMWA spokesman Hilbert Haar said it was extremely worrying that the draft media law would give a five-member council a blank cheque to set up an advertising code and a code of conduct for journalism. According to SMWA, the content of these codes would be beyond democratic control.
“This would be especially awkward for St. Maarten, where local politicians steadfastly refuse calls by Lt. Governor Franklyn Richards to establish a code of conduct for themselves. Their argument is that existing ordinances provide sufficient guidelines for the behaviour of the elected few. The same argument goes, of course, for the media,” is SMWA’s opinion.
SMWA also wondered why the media law had to be implemented now, only 13 months before the dissolution of the Netherlands Antilles.
Other media representatives were of other opinions. John Bandy of St. Maarten TV6 applauded Minister Leeflang’s initiative and said the media were in need of some code of conduct. He recommended the establishment of two separate media councils: one for the print media and one for radio and TV.
Talk show host Oral Gibbes was cautious. Referring to the fact that his show had been taken off the air in 1994, he stated that one should be careful with putting a media law in place, because it could be misused for political reasons.
Independent producer Edsel Hooker told the parliamentarians that in his opinion the media council should be broadened to also include independent producers of radio and TV shows and should also give a separate voice to media representatives of Saba and Statia.
Central Committee Chairman Pedro Atacho said Parliament was working on a preliminary report to submit to the Central Government. He said the opinions of the Windward Islands’ media representatives would be taken into account during Parliament’s second round of discussions with Government on the draft law.
“It is too early to say where the law will go,” Atacho said at the end of the meeting.
Dwigno Puriel (MAN) was not as cautious. He said Minister Leeflang had to take back the draft media law. “The law is unnecessary. The sector can take care of itself. This law has to go to the place where the sun never comes,” Puriel said.
