Ambassador Curtis Ward discusses "Pillars of Democracy and overcoming citizen apathy", highlighting the importance of Freedom of the Press, Freedom of Speech, Freedom of Peaceful Assembly, and Freedom to participate in a free and fair electoral process. Citizen apathy contributes to lack of government transparency, poor governance, and corruption. Citizen apathy weakens democracy, encourages government obfuscations and lack of accountability, and encourages autocracy and political "bullyism". The Jamaican and Caribbean experiences are highlighted.