KINGSTON, Jamaica— Information Minister Senator Dr Dana Morris Dixon reiterated the Government’s support of the media, while condemning recent attacks and accusations made by members of political circles and supporters against journalists and media houses.

The senator made the Government’s stance known during Wednesday’s Post Cabinet Press Briefing, which she pointed to as an example of the administration’s support of the media and the freedom of the press.

“The reality is that this administration is very much committed to press freedom and I think everything we have done has demonstrated that. And I think even just our commitment to these Wednesday morning meetings is very much indicative of that. We come here every Wednesday, invite the media, we bring ministers out, we take every question whether they are hard or easy; we take them, we don’t run away from the media and we believe the media is absolutely important to democracy… so we support the media,” Senator Dixon said.

The Press Association of Jamaica (PAJ) recently expressed concern over the media attacks following claims made in a video circulating online that falsely accuses the chairman of the RJRGleaner Group of directing editorial policy and links journalists at the Jamaica Gleaner to the People’s National Party (PNP).

It also followed the insinuation from Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) Member of Parliament Everald Warmington at a party divisional conference that the media and the PNP destroyed former JLP leaders Edward Seaga and Bruce Golding and is also intent on destroying Prime Minister Andrew Holness.

READ: PAJ condemns attacks on media from political supporters, leaders

“Attacks on the media… is never ever acceptable at all; never acceptable to attack the media. The media is very important and they play a very important role in our society and I have to say that over and over again and I have said that here at Post Cabinet many times,” Senator Dixon said.

“And so I again reiterate the importance of the media, the importance that we do not attack the media as they do their very legitimate work and there are many people in the media, they are wonderful people, I see them here coming though Post Cab, I get them WhatsApping me and calling me all the time, they are doing their jobs.”

“This administration is very, very, very sure that we support the media and we will continue to support the media because we believe that a country that is truly committed to democracy is one that supports the media and does not put up with anything that undermines the role of the media,” she continued.

The information minister added that Prime Minister Andrew Holness had previously raised the issue of the use of social media and the lack of accountability for posts made on these platforms. She further pointed out that social media is a “two-edged sword” that can be used negatively or positively.

“I think that conversation that our prime minister tried to start about social media and what we say on social media and having accountability about what was said is something that we really have to look at. And it is in relation to the media but it is also in relation to many other areas. We have our children being bullied on social media and it is something that we have to address. We have many other instances on social media where things are said of people that are untrue and we have to really, as a country, decide what kind of country we want,” Senator Dixon said.