Claudine Housen, Staff Reporter
RICHARDS
WESTERN BUREAU:
PRESIDENT OF the Press Association of Jamaica (PAJ), Desmond Richards, has declared that the media will not be pressured into abandoning their responsibility to report the news accurately, regardless of whose interest is affected.
"I want to issue a warning to those persons who are holding public offices," said Mr. Richards, while speaking at Wednesday's official opening of the Western Mirror's new building and 25th anniversary celebrations, in Montego Bay.
"I want them to understand that the press is the watchdog on behalf of the public and we are going to stand up and do our duty," he added.
Over the past three weeks, everal public officials have questioned the media's handling of stories related to them. Prime Minister Patterson, Kingston Mayor Desmond McKenzie and Finance Minister Dr. Omar Davies are among those whose comments have grabbed public attention.
Mr. Patterson took issue with a Sunday Gleaner report which detailed the $21 million spent on overseas travel over a four-year period and Mayor McKenzie questioned a Sunday Herald
report which questioned the operations of the Kingston and St. Andrew Corporation.
'BANGARANG'
Dr. Davies took issue with the fact that the media reported the resignation of the Prime Minister's son, Richard Patterson from the
scandal-rocked National Solid Waste Management Authority (NSWMA). He threatened that there would be "bangarang" if the media interfered with members of his family who hold public sector jobs.
Undaunted, Richards said: "Don't warn us about any bangarang. We are fearless."
He urged media owners to continue to play their part in maintaining a free press.
