Urgent need for clear gov’t social media policy, Opposition says
KINGSTON, Jamaica — Shadow Minister of Information and Public Communication, Nekeisha Burchell is urging the government to quickly implement a social media policy with stringent guidelines for public officials.
Burchell’s call comes on the heels of a post made by State Minister in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade, Alando Terrelonge, in which a Jamaican flag emoji was used to block out the portraits of former prime ministers Portia Simpson Miller and PJ Patterson.
The prime ministers whose faces were obscured in the posts were former leaders of the Opposition Peoples’ National Party.
His posts received public backlash which forced the state minister to withdraw the posts and apologise for what he said were “stories posted by one of my team members with access to my social media” which were “not in keeping with my style of posting”.
READ: Terrelonge says he regrets posts blocking faces of former J’can prime ministers
In a statement Wednesday evening, Burchell said “This unpatriotic act by Minister Terrelonge and his team not only shows a lack of respect for two distinguished leaders who have loyally served our nation but also brings dishonour to Jamaica on an international stage, given the State Minister for Foreign Affairs portfolio held by the minister.”
“This incident underscores the urgent need for a clear policy governing the conduct of government representatives on social media,” she continued, adding that the minister’s misstep has reawakened concerns about the blurring of lines between personal and official communication.
“When personal social media accounts are used to broadcast official government information, this often leads to public confusion and the potential for misinterpretation,” Burchell said.
To address these challenges, the Opposition is urging the government to adopt a standardised approach by designating and maintaining official channels, such as ministry and agency websites along with verified and well-maintained social media accounts as the primary sources of public communication.
According to Burchell, these platforms must serve as the definitive outlets for all official announcements, policies, and communications from the government.
“It is crucial to clearly separate the personal opinions and activities of government officials from their official duties,” she said.
“This separation will ensure that all citizens, regardless of political affiliation, can trust that the information they receive is impartial and free from personal biases. Furthermore, the practice of directing the public to the personal social media pages of public officials for national information is not suited for good governance. We have witnessed government ministers publicly upbraiding and blocking citizens who engage them on social platforms, thereby revoking their access to government information. Is this the government’s policy for public communication and engagement?” Burchell questioned.
She is calling on the government to:
- Implement comprehensive social media guidelines that dictate the use of official versus personal platforms for government communication;
- Designate and maintain verified channels as the primary outlets for official government communications, ensuring all content is consistent with the values of respect and integrity;
- Ensure regular training for all government representatives and their staff on these guidelines to prevent future occurrences;
- Clearly outline the consequences for breaches of this policy, establishing a mechanism for accountability and correction; and
- Publicly disclose these guidelines to foster transparency and inform the public about where and how official communications will be disseminated.
“These measures are critical not only to enhancing communication efficiency but also to protecting the integrity of the public office and ensuring that all interactions reflect the dignity of the positions held by government representatives,” Burchell said.
