Opposition Leader Shyne Barrow Condemns Criminal Code Amendment

Leader of the Opposition, Moses Shyne Barrow, has reiterated his position on the Briceno Administration’s decision to amend the criminal code.  While the Police Commissioner has given assurances that they are not looking to intimidate or muzzle the media, Barrow believes otherwise.  In a press release issued last week, Barrow noted that the current administration has has a fundamental problem with freedom of expression and speech.  Today, his stance remains just as strong.

Moses “Shyne” Barrow, Leader of the Opposition: “Stripping the press of its ability, its responsibility, its obligation to bring to light all of the truths that governments and powerful and wealthy people would want to suppress in order to engage in corruption and engage in criminal activity is not the answer. I do believe that the media for the most part is fair and objective. I don’t agree that there is much tabloid journalism happening. To put forward the idea of legislation to suppress the freedom of press that is hallmark for any strong democracy, to suppress free speech so now you cannot share information, we’re in an information era. Obviously if something is not true, if something is a lie, there are already ways to deal with that. But to say now that the media cannot share information that governments, whether PUP or UDP may want to suppress because it doesn’t bode well for their public image, is absolutely authoritarian and must be rejected. I urge the government to reverse course.”

Later in this newscast, we’ll bring you the views of the opposition leader on several other national issues.