The Media Association of Trinidad and Tobago (MATT) has described as "ill-advised," a statement by the Prime Minister's special adviser on security, criticising the media for seeking to put questions to Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar during her official appearances.In the statement, Griffith suggested a new policy to limit media access to the Prime Minister on the ground that they were posing a security threat during interviews.MATT said: "We resent the implication that members of the media themselves are somehow a threat to the Prime Minister.
"The Media Association is not qualified to say whether the Prime Minister's security has been breached. That appears to be part of Capt Griffith's portfolio. It is therefore up to him-not the media-to ensure the Prime Minister's safety, and to provide the media with adequate and suitable access."According to MATT, whenever the media approached the Prime Minister for comments they were simply going about their legitimate business and "they invariably do so appropriately and respectfully."As Capt Griffith himself points out, the Prime Minister has in turn almost always made herself available to the media while going about her duties," the association said.
"Capt Griffith should know that, contrary to what he suggests in his release, it is not the case that media access is only available by prior arrangement.On the contrary, most interviews with the Prime Minister are impromptu and take place on these occasions."If Capt Griffith is now suggesting that media access to the Prime Minister is now to be further restricted, that is in fact a change in policy, and he should simply say so."The association would like to remind Capt Griffith that freedom of the press is protected under the Constitution to ensure that journalists can report government activities to the Trinidad and Tobago public without interference."