Foreign Affairs and Communications Minister verbatim from the debate on the extension of the State of Emergency:
"The talk shows continue. People are writing their reports. People are being critical of the Government in the State of Emergency.
"That is part of the territory. That is part of the transparency. That is part of the openness but above all, part of the respect that this Government has for freedom of speech in this country.
"Mr Speaker, no member of this Government left a barbershop and went into a radio station to remove any two persons from there.
"So press freedom is sacred. Press freedom is dear and is being protected in this country and will be protected by the People's Partnership Government.
"As long as we are in office, we are going to continue to do that as a Government. We are not going to stop people from being critical of the Government. All we ask is that people be fair in terms of being critical."
Verbatim - Trade Minister, Stephen Cadiz:
"There has not been one issue of censorship. Not one issue of censorship. People could say what they want at any time. Whether it is on television, whether it is on radio, letters in the newspapers, whatever it is, they can say. So when you bring that talk of censorship, that is totally incorrect."
"The talk shows continue. People are writing their reports. People are being critical of the Government in the State of Emergency.
"That is part of the territory. That is part of the transparency. That is part of the openness but above all, part of the respect that this Government has for freedom of speech in this country.
"Mr Speaker, no member of this Government left a barbershop and went into a radio station to remove any two persons from there.
"So press freedom is sacred. Press freedom is dear and is being protected in this country and will be protected by the People's Partnership Government.
"As long as we are in office, we are going to continue to do that as a Government. We are not going to stop people from being critical of the Government. All we ask is that people be fair in terms of being critical."
Verbatim - Trade Minister, Stephen Cadiz:
"There has not been one issue of censorship. Not one issue of censorship. People could say what they want at any time. Whether it is on television, whether it is on radio, letters in the newspapers, whatever it is, they can say. So when you bring that talk of censorship, that is totally incorrect."
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