He was speaking at a recent dinner with members of the Fourth Estate, held at Radisson Blu Mammy Yoko Hotel.
President Bio, in his address, expressed empathy for veteran journalist George Khoryama who is the new IMC Chairman, after the ‘uncomplimentary’ statement from SLAJ following his appointment by the president. He however thanked the Veteran Journalists Union (VeJU) for standing by him during those difficult times.
“Like any great fraternity, I am delighted that Mr. Khoryama has now received the fullest support from SLAJ, which is really pleasing to note,” President Bio said.
On the repeal of the criminal libel law, President Bio noted that everyone was aware that part five of the Public Order Act of 1965 criminalizes any publication that is deemed defamatory or seditious, adding that it had been used to unduly target media practitioners and silence dissident views.
He said that while the Act might not have been passed to muzzle the press, the wording clearly puts every citizen’s right to free speech in jeopardy.
He spoke about plans by his administration to open up the media sector to new investment and growth and foster creativity and innovation for the development of high quality journalism
