A letter to the Prime Minister
If I were the station owner of Radio 94.1 and the Prime Minister came into my office and demanded that I take action against two of my employees for exercising their right to free speech, I would respectfully ask him to allow me to first investigate the situation before taking any action. Upon investigating the matter, by finding out exactly what the radio announcers said, I would stand even more firmly in support of them. This is when I would write a letter to the Prime Minster and it would go something like this:
The Honourable Patrick Manning,
Prime Minister of Trinidad and Tobago,
Whitehall, 29 Maraval Road,
Port of Spain.
Dear Sir,
It is only with great respect for your office as Prime Minster, a servant of the people, that I respond in a timely fashion to your demands for reprisal against two of my employees.
Upon investigating your claims, interviewing listeners and thoroughly dissecting a recording of the on-air discussion in question, I discovered the following:
1. The two radio announcers were simply criticising your gas tax policies and CNG solutions.
2. No slanderous or personally incriminating, character-defaming speech was used with malicious intent against you.
3. My employees were well within their rights as media professionals and citizens to exercise their free speech.
As a public figure who serves our country, your quality of service and quality of character are more than up for discussion and criticism by anyone who so chooses, including my radio announcers. Therefore, for this reason, I cannot in good conscience suspend or fire my employees and I humbly ask that you respect my decision which was made after serious deliberation.
As a media professional with decades of experience and hard-won reputation, I must abide by the hard-won freedoms and standards our media has fought for, even at cost or inconvenience to my person or my station.
I am aware that you strongly disagree with the opinions aired and I welcome you to come and discuss these criticisms about your policies on air in a safe, respectful environment.
I am sure you agree that free and open exchange and debate of your policies can only serve to strengthen your relationship with your citizens.
As I recall, Barack Obama and John McCain have endured countless instances of criticism, comedic parodies and even hostile insults with poise and professionalism. They have never used their positions in the Senate to coerce, silence and fearful obedience by words or actions.
As a result, the entire nation has been inspired by the stellar example they have demonstrated and we all now share a dream that is not out of reach by the politicians who serve our country.
I am hoping that you, Sir, will lead the way in making such a high calibre of conduct a reality as part of your Vision 2020.
I speak for all media professionals and decision-makers who are eagerly awaiting your response, confident that you will respect the privilege all of who live in a modern democracy to publically disagree and criticise your policies, actions, behaviour and decisions as much as they desire.
Yours respectfully...
Now, how hard was that? The media is the first to feel the blow of a burgeoning dictatorship. Are we going to develop some cojones or are we going to be bullied?
J Joseph
Port of Spain
Sunday, November 9th 2008 / Trinidad Express
