Television personality and T&T Crime Watch president Ian Alleyne claims he was fired as host of the popular WIN TV programme Crime Watch on directives from government officials. Alleyne was responding to claims by WIN TV that he walked out of his popular television programme Crime Watch, which is aired on the local station on Thursdays.
WIN TV's general manager Sunil Ramdeen said in a media release late last week that Alleyne was not fired but was told to tone down the show's controversial style. "The company received numerous complaints from members of the public that some of the statements being made on the show were in extremely poor taste and even insulting," Ramdeen said. In addition, he said the station wrote Alleyne informing him of the complaints and it was Alleyne who announced on air that he would no longer be doing the show. He admitted that Alleyne's show was the station's number one programme.
In an interview with the T&T Guardian, Alleyne, however, disputed Ramdeen's statement. He said that on Thursday afternoon after he completed his show, he was told by Ramdeen to return the company vehicle that had been assigned to him. "When I arrived at the compound, I was told by security that they had instructions from senior management to not allow me in the building," Alleyne said. He contended that the letter written to him about the show's content came from WIN TV's CEO and vice-chairman of Caribbean Airlines, Mohan Jaikaran.
"I spoke to Jaikaran and he said there were some concerns coming from government ministers about the approach of my show concerning the questioning of the performance of the said ministers," he said.
He said the letter was then forwarded to a senior minister to show the matter had been addressed.
Alleyne declined to reveal the names of the ministers he alleged to be involved in the matter, saying he would soon let the public know. "I am shocked that WIN TV would be influenced by the Government so easily," he said.
Alleyne also alleged that personal documents and items were stored in his office at the station were missing. His attorney Om Lalla informed the Guardian that he was looking into the matter to determine whether any legal action could be taken. When asked about his plans for the future, Alleyne said he had thousands of supporters and this incident would not deter him.
"We have assisted in numerous drug and ammunition arrests over the four years we have had the programme and we will continue to assist the citizens of T&T," he said. He said T&T Crime Watch was still in existence and was still receiving tips and working with the Police Service to reduce crime and social ills. Alleyne hinted that in the coming weeks, a web site would be launched to continue his Crime Watch programme.