Public officials must be explicit about what they intend to be on the public record when speaking to journalists, Information Minister Lynda Tabuya said on Tuesday, as she urged greater clarity and care in media engagements following recent court proceedings that considered off‑the‑record recordings as evidence.
Tabuya described the matter as an ongoing legal issue and said she would not comment on the substance of the case, but that she respected the court’s decision to admit the recordings. “That case, I believe, is still ongoing in court, I will not be able to comment on the content of the case, but I will respect the ruling of the court in allowing the evidence to be admitted in the case,” she told reporters. “So, I respect the decision of the court in that sense.”
The minister warned public servants and members of Parliament they “will all be on our guard now in terms of interviews that are taken off‑the‑record,” noting that the traditional understanding of the phrase relies on trust between interviewer and interviewee. “When stated by a journalist that something is off‑the‑record, we trust that it is off‑the‑record,” she said, adding that off‑the‑record conversations are usually held ahead of formal interviews so public officials can understand the context and questions to expect.
Tabuya urged clearer communication not only between journalists and interviewees but also within government. She said ministers and public officials should explicitly flag to media officers when comments are intended for the public record. “If something wishes to be put in public record, then we need to communicate that as well to media officers that it is for the public record,” she said. “So that is something we will be discussing as well amongst us, as well as our media liaison officers who are usually present when ministers and public officials are interviewed.”
Emphasising that the guidance is not an attempt to conceal information, Tabuya framed the issue as one of accuracy and effective public communication. “It’s not about hiding any information, it’s just about what is truthful as well as what is given out so that we can communicate effectively with the public, and that’s so important,” she said.
Beyond procedural advice, Tabuya positioned the off‑the‑record practice as central to democratic functioning, arguing that the “three words of‑the‑record” form a code that underpins trust between the media and public officials. “It’s a very important relationship, it’s a vital relationship in order to uphold democracy, that there is trust between public officials and the media,” she said.
The minister’s comments mark the government’s first clear guidance on media interactions since the court allowed off‑the‑record recordings to be raised in recent proceedings. With the legal question still before the judiciary, Tabuya said ministries will review internal practices and discuss clearer protocols with media liaison officers to avoid future misunderstandings and to preserve both transparency and the working relationship with journalists.
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