Information Minister Dr. Ernest Hilaire says the Saint Lucian government will continue to support the growth and professionalisation of the local media, but warned that any attempt to control or structure it would undermine its essential democratic role.
Speaking at Monday’s Pre-Cabinet Press Briefing, Dr. Hilaire underscored the importance of maintaining media independence, describing it as the “conscience of society.”
“We have to encourage media,” he said.
“We’re always available as the ministry to provide support. If you need resources to bring media persons together, if you need a consultant to sit with you all to help you all put things in place, we will support that. But I would never want to be part of any attempt to go in and to be deciding how to structure the media and how to manage the media. I don’t think politicians should be doing that at all.”
Dr. Hilaire said that government’s role should be limited to facilitating capacity building rather than interfering in editorial independence. “If there is one sector of the society we have to make sure that it is never controlled by the state and managed by the state, it’s the media sector,” he stated.
He emphasised that the press serves as a watchdog over power, saying, “When people talk about the conscience of society, in many ways the media serves as a conscience of society. They are the ones who really, on a daily basis, have to hold those with power in check and accountable by asking the right questions and doing research, and really being able to come out there and to present information and to hold authorities accountable.”
The minister acknowledged, however, that the issue of regulation often sparks debate.
“Unless you have a very mature setting where people realise this is not control but this is regulation to prevent abuse,” he explained, “and not abuse by professional practising media personnel, but by a lot of shams and charlatans they have who claim to be media. They’re not really media persons, but they claim to be.”
Dr. Hilaire pointed to the rise of untrained commentators as a growing challenge for media credibility.
“Talk shows are the new phenomenon. It’s not new anymore. Anybody can start a talk show and share information and influence public opinion, and claim that they’re part of the media. Now, is a talk show host part of the media? I don’t know. I’m not sure I can define the media as well as you do.”
Despite these challenges, the minister reiterated that the path to a stronger press must be driven by media professionals themselves. “True professionalisation,” he said, “must come from within the media. The government can support, but it should never control.”