Holness Shuts Door On Press

For the Press to be told that it is a private matter the swearing in of the new cabinet and state Ministers is unacceptable and inexcusable. The Press Association Of Jamaica (PAJ) has objected strongly.  Why are we being used and then discarded when it suits their purposes?

The media including the foreign press of which Vision, a Canadian and United Kingdom based media entity operate have been a victim of door shutting by the Office Of The Prime Minister, (OPM) and by extension the PM. Make no mistake about it, the buck stops at Prime Minister Holiness’ desk.  He does employ persons as Communications Director and Press Secretary but in the final analysis he is the final arbiter.

  PNP

If this grevious transgression occurred under Portia Simpson Miller’s leadership we could easily look the other way. Well by her own admission she does not read the papers and watcheth not television.  Yet she has a degree, we are told from Unison University or somewhere like that.

Leaked

Having facilitated the leaking of information regarding the new cabinet and related list of appointees, they had achieve their communication objectives  so there was no need to have the press present.  Is this so?”

The PM and his handlers were quite cognizant of the public outrage at the discarding of Hon. Audley Shaw, so they sensed a few face to face tough questions. Well,  the easy way out is to shut out the media.

Media Savvy

The PM dabbled in the media for a while when he was in opposition, so he has a good feel for matters media … he is known to grasp complex issues quickly, unlike other persons well known to us all. He is smart and very social media savvy. The PM has a huge following on social media platforms.  He is no novice to matters media. So, why this treatment being meted out to the media which has meant so much to Holness?

AK47

Vision’s SIC was on a lamp stand fifteen feet in the air five feet from the platform at Sam Sharpe Square when shots rang out from AK47 assault weapon(s).  We reported the incident in 2016 as “an assassination attempt on the life of” then Opposition Leader Andrew Holness who was at the podium addressing the massive rally crowd of mainly green clad JLP supporters. Elements in the media did curse me out for being “sensational” as they felt Andrew & wife Juliet who was sitting beside him were safe.  The security huddled them to safety. It all unfolded before my eyes.  My critics were not there.

We may never know the true answer.  One thing is sure, what goes around tend to come around. Such is the nature of life. We should never discard our walking stick, as we may need to return to same.