Expression

Barbados has a healthy respect for free speech and a vibrant media space ensures that people have access to a range of views and opinions. Like most Caribbean countries, defamation remains a criminal offence in Barbados and the punishment for libel is imprisonment of up to 12 months or a fine, although actual use of these laws appears to be rare. Barbados has no law in place that allows citizens access to government information, despite repeated promises by the government to enact a law. Positively however, Barbados has done away with sedition laws that criminalise criticism or insulting of the government or heads of state. The Internet is not restricted or censored in Barbados, and, in 2014, almost 77% of people were online.