TT ranks 5th in press freedom

A report on countries’ freedom of the press has ranked Trinidad and Tobago in fifth place.

Reporters Without Borders published its second world press freedom ranking, compiled by  journalists, researchers, jurists and human rights activists filling out a questionnaire evaluating respect for press freedom in a particular country. A total of 166 countries are included in the ranking, with the other countries left out because of a lack of reliable, well-supported data.

In joint first place were Finland, Iceland, Netherlands and Norway. Trinidad and Tobago tied with Denmark for fifth place, ahead of the rest of the top-ten countries of Belgium, Germany, Sweden and Canada. By its fifth place Trinidad and Tobago placed well ahead of the United States in position 31 and United Kingdom at number 27. Other notable positions were Venezuela at 96, India at 122, Russia at 148, China at 161, Cuba at 165 and in last place North Korea at 166. The report stated: “United States and Israel singled out for actions beyond their borders...As in 2002, the most catastrophic situation is to be found in Asia, especially North Korea, Burma and Laos. Second from last in the ranking, Cuba is today the world’s biggest prison for journalists.