MATT condemns ‘outrageous tactics’ by police

The Media Association of T&T (MATT) condemns in the strongest possible terms Thursday’s police raid on the offices of Newsday and the treatment of reporter Andre Bagoo and the search carried out at his home. MATT said the outrageous tactics used by the police in the raid are an attack on the constitutionally protected freedom of the press in T&T. “Taken together with an unnecessary and heavy-handed police raid last December on the offices of CCN TV6, Thursday’s incident appears to be part of a developing pattern of intimidatory tactics being adopted by the police in dealing with the media. “In this case, a bona fide reporter is being pressed to reveal his sources for a story he wrote last year on the proceedings of the Integrity Commission.”

MATT said the search warrant on which the police relied was issued under Section 35 (2) of the Integrity in Public Life Act, which applies to members and staff of the commission who reveal confidential information, and not to members of the public. “The police action, therefore, amounts to unwarranted harassment of Bagoo and serves to undermine the trust between journalists and their sources, which is fundamental to the profession. “How are the media to function as in independent monitor of those who hold power if this dangerous strategy of police harassment and intimidation continues?

“The police action thus strikes directly at the freedom of the press and all citizens.” MATT said T&T’s image continues to be tarnished, especially in light of its recent downgrade on the press freedom index by international watchdog agency, Reporters Without Borders. The association also noted that it is ironic that the incident follows a complaint made to the police by Ken Gordon, Integrity Commission chairman. MATT called on Gordon to condemn the attack on the media and on Commissioner of Police Dwayne Gibbs to investigate the decision to use “alarming and misguided tactics”.