Media deny connections to drug trade; ask TT PM to clarify remarks

The Trinidad and Tobago Publishers and Broadcasters Association (TTPBA) on Friday denied that any of its members is linked to criminal activities.

And the media group called on Prime Minister Patrick Manning to clarify statements he made this week regarding the media and the illegal drugs trade in Trinidad and Tobago.

Manning told a political meeting on Monday that he is under attack "from all sides" because of his fight to end the drug trade.

Manning said the attacks against him intensified soon after the Coast Guard deployed a number of boats to patrol the island’s coastline.

"We began to notice attacks on the Prime Minister in the media,” he declared, adding that he has noticed that the attacks have been “more and more strident”.

He told supporters, “I can tell you one thing, and I am not calling any names because I know the newspapers will ask me tomorrow to name them, I will do no such thing, but the information that we have is not so much they against the PNM, they would like to see a PNM government but they are against the Prime Minister because that is the man standing in their way."

Read the story: PM defends his integrity, says drug dealers out to get him

In a statement on Friday, the TTPBA asked Manning to clarify the statement he made at the meeting.

“After careful investigation, the TTPBA is of the opinion that although the Honourable Prime Minister did not state that the media was being supported by members of the underworld, the manner in which his comment was delivered gave that impression," TTPBA said.

It added, “We would like Mr. Manning, as a responsible politician and the leader of our nation, to explain what he meant or to release to the relevant authorities, any information he might have to support his comment, particularly since his current endeavour is to clean up crime and put a stop to the drug trade. This matter is of concern, as well, since the Government also owns media."

The body said there were several other issues of urgent national importance that should be addressed and “we feel that instances like these could cloud significant matters and cause undue unrest with the public.

“The TTPBA wish to state that our members are in no way linked to any underworld activity. Our responsibility as the media is to inform and entertain the audiences we serve. The media has long been a vehicle for the expression of our people, a platform for society’s conscience and a conduit for information.”