No political interference at state-owned CNMG: Suruj

Surujrattan Rambachan told reporters Wednesday there is no political interference at State-owned media house Caribbean New Media Group (CNMG) and reaffirmed the People's Partnership commitment to media freedom.

"The Government of Trinidad and Tobago values press freedom and the Government of Trinidad and Tobago will not interfere in the rights of reporters to report the news in the most professional manner, and that is the principle by which we abide and the principle that will be upheld," the foreign minister said.

He made the comment at the signing of a memorandum of understanding between the Association of Caribbean States and the University of the West Indies.

Journalists working for the state media company have written to the head of news, Carlisle Hinkson, complaining about what they say is political interference in the operations of the news service at CNMG.

Rambachan said although he has not been fully apprised of the situation he suggested that there is a familiar ring to the accusation, which he said comes with any change in government.

On Tuesday, the letter dated March 31, 2011 was sent to journalists claiming that senior management had ordered certain stories dropped from newscasts, especially for the morning shows. 

They also objected to a communications officer assigned to the ministry of foreign affairs sending reports to the station from overseas assignments in London and Washington, saying that the officer's connection to the government tainted his journalism and also deprived staff from covering the assignments.

The Media Association of Trinidad and Tobago (MATT) has since issued a statement in support of the CNMG workers and has asked the station's management to abide by CNMG's journalistic guidelines.

Rambachan asked why MATT did not ask the former administration that question. "I did not hear MATT ask that question when the other government was in office," the minister said.

He also addressed the issue of whether the state should own media such as CNMG. "I think that once the State media house does its work in an honest manner, once it upholds integrity in terms of what it's doing, once it's professional, I don't think there is any problem at all with the State owning media," he said.