PNP Raises Alarm as Jamaica Slips Further on Press Freedom Index Opposition Says Government’s Actions Undermine Free and Independent Media

Kingston, Jamaica. May 2, 2025: The Opposition People’s National Party (PNP) is raising concerns following Jamaica’s further decline on the 2025 World Press Freedom Index. The country now ranks 26th out of 180 countries, a troubling slip of 2 more places and 16 places since 2020, that reflects the growing gulf of mistrust between government officials and the press, and an increasingly autocratic posture by the Holness administration.

Opposition Spokesperson on Information and Public Communication, Nekeisha Burchell, said this is no coincidence, but the result of deliberate attempts to undermine press freedom and control the national narrative.

“This administration has consistently shown contempt for independent journalism,” Burchell said. “Prime Minister Andrew Holness and Minister Dana Morris Dixon have used their public platforms to delegitimize respected media houses, directing Jamaicans away from independent journalism and toward party-controlled channels. This is not preference, it’s a calculated effort to silence dissent and avoid scrutiny.”

Burchell cited instances where journalists and media houses were openly attacked or dismissed for asking tough questions, and where government parliamentarians have displayed visible hostility to the press. “Rather than respond with transparency, the government seeks to sideline reporters and replace journalistic scrutiny with state-managed messaging,” she added.

The PNP also highlighted concerns over the use of public funds to finance politically charged advertising, disguised as government information. “We are not opposed to media houses earning, they have every right to. But when taxpayer dollars are used to produce promotional content that seeks to elevate the Prime Minister and political actors, under the guise of public updates, we must ask if the line between governance and campaign propaganda has been crossed,” Burchell said. “Entities like JIS and PBCJ are mandated to inform the public, not serve as party megaphones. This kind of spending distorts the information ecosystem and erodes public trust.”

Burchell acknowledged the real pressures faced by traditional media due to digital disruption and economic shifts, but urged that integrity must not be sacrificed in the fight for survival. “We understand the economic challenges in today’s media landscape. But journalistic independence and integrity must remain non-negotiable. Jamaicans need credible, independent voices now more than ever.”

Still, she commended those in the media who have remained steadfast. “We salute the journalists and media houses that continue to speak truth to power, challenge government excess, and put country above contract. Their courage safeguards our democracy, and we see them.”

As Jamaica observes World Press Freedom Day on May 3, the PNP is calling for stronger protections for journalists, transparency in public communication spending, and a national recommitment to press freedom.

“A free press is not a threat to government; it is the foundation of good governance. When leaders fear questions and shut out the media, they aren’t strengthening the country – they are weakening it,” Burchell concluded.