... At a time of tremendous change for industry
Chairman, you all know that we are at a time of tremendous change for our industry from analogue to digital terrestrial television broadcasting. Some of our members have started the process, while others are struggling to start.
This will certainly be a matter discussed again in our Assembly. We again call on our regulators and policymakers to collaborate where we can in the region and to take deliberate steps to ensure that indigenous broadcasters are allowed to transition in a manner that retains their viability and competitiveness – one that allows them to enter the full range of media and communications services that the new broadcast technologies allow.
Traditional broadcasters must be allowed to be licensed to use digital formats that will make them players in the Internet, cable, telephony, and television services.
While that is done, we appeal for the authorities to ensure that all countries in our region take steps for the prevention of analogue television waste material being dumped on our markets and that our people are sufficiently informed and educated about the various aspects of this significant set of changes.
If you permit me, Chairman, we must also draw attention to the concern we have had in Jamaica, Suriname, and Trinidad and Tobago with draft legislation aimed at putting necessary laws in place for data protection.
We will deliberate upon some of these issues in our conference but must make it clear that we will not yield our editorial independence. We will not reveal sources to any source and we will not accept a law that will fine or imprison publishers for not meeting data protection laws that breach the fundamentals of a free media and the right of the people to hold authorities accountable.
We will not accept a law that will fine or imprison publishers for not meeting Data Protection Laws that breach the fundamentals of a free media and the right of the people to hold authorities accountable.