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Jamaica libel and newspapers - Printable Version

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Jamaica libel and newspapers - JonTom - 02-09-2013

The past 2 days have had reports of the US embassy official who pleaded guilty to being bribed for providing a visa for Mavado (David Brooks).
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At least one US based paper names him, but the Gleaner and Observer continue to just hint (though very strongly) at his identity, using only his initials, D.B.

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I'm just guessing that there is some concern over a libel, or some such similar, suit being brought against the paper/editor if they print the name. Could be something else - perhaps fearful of his influence, but libel comes to mind over some vague recollection I have of an editorial years ago in one of the papers. I think the main point was that JA's libel laws were stifling free speech and the democracy that comes from good investigative reporting.

Can someone explain to me if libel is the fear in this case, and why in JA it is so feared?

Re: Jamaica libel and newspapers - JonTom - 02-13-2013

Medi,
Thanks for the response and insight. I'd agree I don't see as much investigative journalism there as many other countries (though the decline of traditional print media may be driving it down everywhere). I wonder though if the libel laws are what really represses it, or if other factors are at work. (corruption/complicity).
I'm familiar with the routine you cite for that Sav shooting - except you left out the rote "police say a 9 mm handgun and 6 rounds were found at the scene" part.
But the Mavado story has not (so far) indicated any crime committed by Mavado/DB (a bribery charge could materialize some say). Anyway another story today may have partially answered for me the way things run. The T&T woman from MoBay murdered last summer (burned body found in a field somewhere - taxi driver from Whithorn charged).
The trial still hasn't started (surprise!!) but a T&T website had an "unnamed" JA lawyer explaining the differences in law process between the 2 countries. Main point was how a murder suspect could be granted bail, but he/she also stated that the reason the suspect's picture was not in JA papers was b/c the libel laws could open them to libel if he was found not guilty.
That is not the same situation as Mavado's but may be close enough to explain why the papers withhold his name.