Media Center
(May 3, 2010) BMA Commissioner Binyah Kesselly Applauds the Leadership of the Press Union of Liberia Leadership.
As they celebrate World Press Freedom Day
The Bureau of Maritime Affairs (the “BMA”) Commissioner Binyah Kesselly recently commended the leadership of the Press Union of Liberia (the “PUL”) for ensuring the dissemination of information for decades now.
Comm. Binyah C. Kesselly Cllr. Negbalee Warner Mr. William Burke
On May 3, 2010 the PUL commemorated this year’s World Press Freedom Day, a day set aside by the United Nations General Assembly to remind governments worldwide to respect and uphold press freedom as an obligation.
Commissioner Kesselly served as one of the panelists at the Special Edition of the Edward Wilmot Blyden Forum held at the auditorium of the University of Liberia under the theme: The Freedom of Information; The Right to Know.
Hon. Ketter-Kumeh Murray Hon. Lewis Brown
Speaking during the program, he narrowly focused on “Freedom and Responsibility” and observed that the Liberian Constitution provides for several liberties or freedom that we all enjoy as a direct benefit of being Liberians. The constitution also provides for the freedom (or choice) to do or not to do and provides for remedies to that effect. But what most seem to ignore or forget, is that little component of Freedom called Responsibility. Continuing, he said Responsibility changes the outlook and scope of what we enjoy as basic freedom and places the burden squarely on us to be mindful of those liberties that we so vividly crave, desire and pursue. As such, the laws need to be clear and while on the one hand, we need to ensure that the sharing of information is a right that must be protected, and on the other hand, suggest a level of caution and provides protection of these basic rights, they also should provide the guidelines under which information is requested and ultimately disseminated.
Touching on the discussion point, Commissioner Kesselly said “Freedom of Information: The Right to Know”, is one that is very poignant in our nation’s re-emergence and is totally indispensible to our very existence. However, one must be mindful of the repercussions of too much information, or what is referred to in the corporate world as “Information Overload”.
He concluded with two important points: INFORMATION IS POWER AND WITH GREAT POWER COMES GREAT RESPONSIBILITY.
Other panelists who participated in the program included Hon. Lewis Brown, former Foreign Minister, Hon. Ketterkumeh Murray, a member of the House of Representatives, Cllr. Negbalee Warner of the Pierre, Tweh & Associate Law Firm and Media Specialist from IREX, Mr. William Burke.
World Press Freedom Day came into being from a recommendation by the Economics and Social Council of the United Nations General Assembly on December 20, 1993. This action stemmed from the General Conference of UNESCO by a 1991 resolution on “Promotion of Press Freedom in the World, which recognized that a free, pluralistic and independent press is an essential component of any democratic society.
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