Caption: Nicholas Morris

Summary

• No Affront to Press Freedom: Minister Nicholas Morris assured the population that the Government will not suppress the media.
• Media Exclusion Addressed: The Government denies hiding from the media after journalists were excluded from Tuesday’s State of Emergency (SoE) address.
• Statement vs Press Conference:  Morris said that Attorney General John Jeremie’s broadcast was a ‘media statement’ utilising state-run TTT, not a press conference.
• MATT’s Concerns: MATT President Prior Beharry questioned why the AG did not hold an open forum to allow the media to ask questions about the serious nature of the SoE.
• Ministers’ Absence: Morris stated there was no ‘ulterior motive’ for the absence of the AG and the Homeland Security Minister at Thursday’s post-Cabinet briefing.
• Commitment to Transparency: Emphasising that the SoE is only in its third day, Morris assured the public and the press that the Government will remain accessible and accountable.

By Alicia Chamely

The State of Emergency (SoE) is not geared to suppress the media but to protect law abiding citizens of the country.

This was the assurance given by Minster in the Office of the Prime Minister Nicholas Morris on Thursday at the Cabinet Press conference.

He was asked by AZP Editor-in-Chief and President of the Media Association of Trinidad and Tobago (MATT) Prior Beharry if Regulation 11 of the Emergency Powers Regulation was an affront on press freedom in the country.

Morris said, “I want to give the population the assurance SoE is not a tool from or by this government to oppress or suppress any arm of the media or any law abiding citizen.

“This SoE it is to secure the safety and security of law abiding citizens and the only people who have reason to be fearful or concerned, it is those who break the law and those who are seeking to ensure that they continue to rein terror on innocent citizens in communities.”

Regulation 11 states: “No person shall– (a) endeavour, whether orally or otherwise, to influence public opinion in a manner likely to be prejudicial to public safety; or (b) do any act or have any article in his possession with a view to making or facilitating the making of any such endeavour.”

Morris also said that the Government was not hiding from the media; in fact, it will remain accountable and accessible when it comes to matters relating to the SoE.

Morris was also asked why Attorney General John Jeremie opted not to have an open press conference on Tuesday after the SoE was declared.

Jeremie, joined by Homeland Security Minister Roger Alexander and a Minister in the Ministry of the Attorney General, made a live video address on Tuesday morning regarding the SoE. All media, other than state-run TTT, were barred from attending address.

Speaking at Thursday’s post-Cabinet press conference held at the Diplomatic Centre in St Ann’s, Morris denied that the AG held a “media conference,” stating it was a video address and no media personnel were deliberately blocked from attending.

“I think the issue on Tuesday was not a press conference; it was a statement by the Attorney General,” Morris said. “If there was a press conference, in keeping with our very warm and loving relationship with the media, all would have been invited. But it was a statement that the AG had to give, and he utilised the arms of the state.”

He added, “It was not a press conference, so therefore no arms of the media would have been blocked out, especially you (Beharry), being the head of MATT. So, I give you that assurance it was a media statement by the Attorney General.”

Morris reiterated the Government’s commitment to transparency.

He said, “As we’ve done in the last SoE, and as we have done throughout many of our aspects, the Government will remain accountable and accessible in this process as an important issue.”

Beharry pressed Morris, asking whether, given the seriousness of the SoE and the public’s concerns, the AG should have held a press conference where he would have been subject to questioning.

Morris replied, “Again, the AG and the Government made a statement on why we wanted to institute the SoE, and as we go forward in the days to come, there will be that level of communication as there was in the previous SoE.”

When asked why neither the AG nor the Homeland Security Minister were present at Thursday’s post-Cabinet meeting to answer questions, Morris said there was no “ulterior motive” for their absence. He explained that it was decided the press conference would focus on the Prime Minister’s trip to the Shield of the Americas Summit in Florida and developments in the energy sector announced by Energy Minister Dr Roodal Moonilal.

Noting that the country is only three days into the SoE, Morris assured that the Government and the relevant ministers would be communicative and available to the press.

“This is only day number three,” he said, “and you will have access to the members of the Government with that portfolio as they update the country on the process.”

Morris concluded: “There’s no issue. We are not here to hide from the media. In fact, we’ve actually communicated effectively thus far on why it was declared. We go to Parliament tomorrow (Friday), there’ll be more discussion, and as we go along in the weeks to come, there will be discussion on the SoE. We remain available for your comments.”