... Persad-Bissessar hits back

PORT-OF-SPAIN (CMC):

Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar, insisting that she is not attacking press freedom, has called on the Media Association of Trinidad and Tobago to rein in "rogue" members of the profession.

"l am not afraid of taking the risk associated with saying the following, which by no means should be construed as an attack on media freedom, but the evidence before me is troubling and it should trouble all of us as citizens," said Persad-Bissessar said at the Monday night forum of her ruling United National Congress.

She said that as the Fourth Estate, as journalism is referred to, is in itself a political force in any democracy and its integrity is based on being fair and unbiased.

"And when that integrity is under attack by a few rogue elements within the profession, we are all at risk, no matter what side of the political divide you stand on.

"The evidence we have been seeing is that some so-called media professionals are not being fair to this government and are not reporting on the achievements and successes of the government," she added.

Persad-Bissessar said that journalists have now resorted to distorting the facts, and that in the interest and cause of good journalism and journalistic integrity, the profession needed to be taken to newer heights of personal and institutional professionalism and excellence.

She said the duty of the media is to inform and educate, but it is equally the duty of the media to be fair and to be truthful.

Persad-Bissessar said she did not want to engage in a war with the media and pointed out that over the years she has built relationships and considers the media members to be "patriots" who work hard, despite the lack of financial gain, to help build a functioning and successful democracy.

She noted that her Government funded the meeting of the International Press Institute (IPI) in Trinidad last June at a cost of TT$300,000 (TT$1 = US$0.37 cents).

She said that freedom of the press is still constitutionally guaranteed, but emphasised that this freedom comes with serious responsibility.