Opposition 'gravely' disturbed over media raid

The Leader of the Opposition issued a statement Friday on the raid by police at the offices of Newsday. Keith Rowley's statement is published below:

The Opposition PNM is gravely disturbed by the recent developments wherein the state Police Units have taken to raiding newspaper offices in search of information purportedly in furtherance of some investigation.

Following the raid on CCN TV6, the latest raid at the offices of Newsday is even more troubling, since it is apparently aimed at forcing a journalist to reveal the source of his information.

If this is allowed to become an acceptable way of doing investigations in this country then the very essential freedom of the press which is enshrined in our Constitution, will be effectively destroyed and the population will be at the mercy of the Executive, which would always want to keep embarrassing information away from the knowledge of the public. In such a climate there will be further sustained abuse flavoured with corruption in all its forms, developments which we must all guard against.

The Opposition views the action of the Trinidad and Tobago Police Service (TTPS) in this matter, as hopelessly misguided and an abuse of the rights of citizens to know what is being done to them and in their name.

The Opposition would like to know where these instructions are originating from, since we view the latest Police action in the same light with which we observed the arrest and incarceration of thousands of citizens, without evidence, by the Police Service during the now infamous State of Emergency and assassination “plot” escapades.

The Opposition demands a full and clear explanation from the leadership of the Trinidad and Tobago Police Service as to how this disastrous action is not designed to damage our cherished freedom of the press, a commitment to our citizens, which apparently is now to be replaced by fear and oppression.

This kind of misguided activity coupled with questionable statements from government sources, have the potential to indelibly stain our country’s reputation and further destroy the morale of the police and the people.

This approach to advancing Police investigations must be strongly condemned by all right thinking citizens, and once again the Opposition questions whether the Trinidad and Tobago Police Service is acting independently and competently in the national well being.