PHILIPSBURG--Education and Culture Minister Silveria Jacobs described the almost-ten-year-old draft Media Law as “outdated” in Parliament on Thursday afternoon. The law, first tabled in the Netherlands Antilles Parliament in 2007, does not take into account the tremendous growth of “new media” – online news outlets, blogs and social media platforms.
Jacobs was in Parliament for a Central Committee meeting on the draft legislation that is part of a package of draft laws taken over by St. Maarten from the Netherlands Antilles as of October 10, 2010. The William Marlin Cabinet has not taken a position on the draft law, said Jacobs.
Positive aspects of the law include the formation of a “Media Council” of people from the sector, with Government acting as a facilitator, she said. The Minister’s role would be “to sanction” what the Media Council puts forward and to ratify such. The Minister also would provide “limited resources” to support the Media Council in its duties.
Jacobs explained that many aspects of the long-pending law were covered in existing legislation spanning from the Constitution to the Civil and Penal Codes. She said it was now up to Members of Parliament to decide how they want to proceed with the law.
MPs Leona Marlin-Romeo (independent), Maurice Lake (independent), Dr. Lloyd Richardson and Theo Heyliger (United People’s (UP) party) pointed out the need for the law to be updated to encompass new media and to curb abuses on the Internet.
MP Frans Richardson (United St. Maarten Party) said Parliament needed to hear the view of media sector stakeholders on the draft law. He suggested the draft be sent to Parliament’s Permanent Committee for Education and Culture for further discussion.
MP George Pantophlet (National Alliance) said freedom of expression must be taken into consideration.
In the radio and television broadcast field, MP Tamara Leonard (UP) questioned the role of Bureau Telecommunication and Post (BTP) in keeping the airwaves clean and clear.
Parliament Chairwoman Sarah Wescot-Williams said a second Central Committee meeting would be held on the draft law to continue the handling process.
