EDITORIAL - Mr Vaz should table WikiLeaks cables

We commend Jamaica's information minister, Mr Daryl Vaz, for his commitment to openness and transparency in Government, as was implied by his urging of The Gleaner last week for full, uncensored publication of all the diplomatic cables that we received from the whistle-blowing organisation, WikiLeaks.

We believe that is a fair interpretation of Mr Vaz's position when he called, "in the name of transparency and fairness", for us to "to publish not only selective portions of the cables" sent by US diplomats in Kingston to the US State Department between 2005 and 2010.

Added Mr Vaz: "Since (The Gleaner) made a decision and entered into such an agreement, they must publish all correspondence and communiqués to avoid accusations of pursuing personal or political agendas.

"When I say all, I mean all pertaining to the country Jamaica, whether political parties, individuals or organisations.

"I am going further ... . Since the The Gleaner has entered into this arrangement (with WikiLeaks), it should make all leaks pertaining to Jamaica public knowledge and have public access."

It is a request with which this newspaper would be willing to comply, except that there are certain practical considerations, not least the laws of libel. We, for example, enjoy no immunity from civil action for defamation and would, therefore, face the possibility of legal action by persons who may claim to be libelled in any of these cables if the communications were not appropriately redacted before publication.

Mr Vaz, however, does have absolute immunity from defamation action when he, like other legislators, speaks in Parliament. Reports of statements made in Parliament also enjoy privilege.

In that regard, there is a clear route for Minister Vaz, who, we believe, would have the support of his ministerial colleagues when he spoke at last Wednesday's briefing on developments from the weekly meeting of the Cabinet to ensure "all correspondence and communiqués" and "not only selective portions" of the cables are published.

He can table them in the House of Representatives. Then they would become privileged public documents, available to all Jamaicans, on which the media could freely report without fear of defamation suits.

We suggest to Minister Vaz that he announce ahead of time the date on which he will table these documents so that Jamaicans will be fully aware of his intention and the media can plan their management of the information.

table foreign communication

Given Mr Vaz's and, by extension, the administration's commitment to open government, including transparency in the flow of information between states, we have another suggestion for the minister.

Our Government, as a matter of course, should periodically table all communication our foreign ministry sends to foreign governments, and those our diplomats abroad send home.

Of course, Mr Vaz might shy away from tabling the WikiLeaks cables, perhaps on grounds which question their admissibility. But he knows only too well that ugly truths are often shrouded in secrecy.

In that case, Mr Vaz could become a more vociferous advocate for the reform of Jamaica's libel laws, which would thereby enable the press - without malicious intent - to publish the cables free of redaction for all to see.

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