The Nation Newspaper has left us in a state of shock. Were journalist actually roughed up last evening at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital for legitimately trying to cover a story of a bus crash in the parish of St. John? What is going to happen next? Is this over zealous behaviour or a policy position? Who called the police to the QEH? Were it the guards stationed there? Were the actions of the journalist injurious to someones health? When did the hospital exterior become off limits to journalists? An immediate explanation must be given by the hospital for the call to remove or prohibit the journalist from bringing the news to the people. Is this the front side of a dangerous wedge emerging in Barbados?
The people have a right to know what is happening. What is clear is that freedom is under threat. These skirmishes show that somebody is willing to take the chance and erode the freedoms of Barbadians. See Nation Newspaper story below.
A CARIBBEAN BROADCASTING CORPORATION (CBC) CAMERAMAN was arrested and charged, while two NATION media personnel were manhandled by police officers at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital (QEH) on Friday night.
The incident occurred when the media converged outside the QEH’s Accident & Emergency (A&E) Department to report on casualties arriving from a Transport Board bus accident at Bath, St John.
Jimmy Gittens, a contract photographer with CBC, appeared before Magistrate Deborah Holder in the District “A” Bridgetown Court yesterday charged with trespassing on the QEH’s compound.
Gittens, of Mayers Road, My Lord’s Hill, St Michael, was granted $1 500 bail after pleading not guilty to the offence and will return to court on July 11.
After his appearance, the photographer spoke of having to spend the early hours of Saturday morning in a prison cell before he was eventually released on personal bail around 3 a.m. at the Central Police Station.
The CBC photographer was represented by Michael Lashley, while legal counsel for CBC, Leslie Barrow, and Brian Barrow of legal firm Carrington & Sealy, held a watching brief.
Lashley said he was surprised by the action taken against his client by police, and called for Press freedom legislation to be enacted.
He hinted that his client would possibly pursue criminal and civil action against the Royal Barbados Police Force.
“There is some ground for cross charge and obviously we will send whatever correspondence on Tuesday to the COP [Commissioner Of Police] concerning this incident.
“I also call for a Freedom of Information Act because we definitely do need some sort of legislation to allow the Press to do what is necessary once their actions are within the parameters of the law.”
CEO and Publisher of the Nation Publishing Company, Vivian-Anne Gittens, said last night that the company was also concerned that the police action against a NATION reporter and photographer, who were carrying out their duties in a public area, could possibly be seen as a threat to Press freedom.
1 Comment
July 29, 2007 at 8:10 pm
Dlp
Perhaps you could leave a message for those grieving relatives who lost loved ones as well as for those injured.
As for me I am keeping them in my prayers and trust that the citizens do too.