Latin America & the Caribbean

Jamaica

{This graph represents scores that have been modified by CIMA so that higher scores indicate a better media situation. It is intended to show trends over time; each index measures significantly different factors of press freedom. To see an explanation for how this graph was created, click here.}

Freedom House Score: 18 (Free)	[Freedom House Methodology]
{Lower is Better, Score Ranges from 0 to 100}

RSF Score: 7.67	[RSF Methodology]
{Lower is Better, Score Ranges from 0 to ~120}

Reporters Without Borders Description:

It was the Prime Minister, Bruce Golding, who in January 2008 set up a think tank to examine the laws of Libel and Slander. President of the Press Association of Jamaica (PAJ), Desmond Richards, headed up the committee. Under Jamaican law, defamation offences are still punishable with prison sentences, although no longer applied in this type of case. Committee members have been compromised by the whiff of “corporatism” and one year after it was set up, the promised new legislation has not been forthcoming. Jamaica has a very honourable record in freedom of expression and media safety, only slightly diminished by the occasional physical assault. In the space of one week in 2009, two journalists were victims of abuse of power on the part of Kingston police.

Latin America & the Caribbean

Jamaica

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