PRESS RELEASE – PAJ URGES PRIME MINISTER HOLNESS TO HOLD PRESS BRIEFINGS IN NEW YEAR

December 19, 2016: The Press Association of Jamaica has written to Prime Minister Andrew Holness noting his failure to hold press briefings since assuming office, and urging him to do so in the New Year for benefit of the public.

The PAJ stressed that it was very concerned about media access to Ministers of Government, and particularly to Mr. Holness as Prime Minister.

PAJ President Dionne Jackson Miller acknowledged in her letter to the Prime Minister that he had given several interviews to local media houses since assuming office, including one to her, and the RJR Communications Group for which she works.

However, the PAJ President noted that although these interviews are important, they are necessarily selective and exclude many reporters and media houses, and therefore do not provide the kind of broad-based access to media which press conferences do.

The PAJ noted that Mr. Holness, since assuming office in March, had yet to hold a comprehensive press briefing in the capacity of Prime Minister, which all media representatives could attend and ask him a range of questions, for the benefit of the public.

The PAJ urged Mr. Holness to remedy this deficiency as early as possible in the New Year, and to make these briefings a regular staple on his schedule.

The PAJ’s letter has been acknowledged by the Office of the Prime Minister, with a commitment to respond to the concerns expressed at the earliest possible time.

Commentary

Do Not Ignore The Media …

Portia Simpson Miller as PM virtually ignored the media during her incumbency as leader of government. She treated the media with nothing short of contempt and did not behave as if we existed.

Her handlers Sandrea Faulkner et al, were not blameless. Alas! The buck stops at the Office of the Prime Minister. Full stop.

To PM Holness we often say in Jamaica, he who has eyes to see, let him see, and ears let him hear or else he will feel.

Enough said sir, it is now over to you.

Do not follow advice to gnore the media.

Commentary by Hopeton O’Connor-Dennie – Senior International Correspondent & photojournalist for Vision Newspaper