Journalists at the Trinidad Guardian newspaper walked off the job on Wednesday in what the Media Association of Trinidad and Tobago (MATT) has described as a “major threat to press freedom”.
The journalists walked off their jobs amid reported pressure on the board of directors to have Editor-in Chief, Judy Raymond re-assigned.
Media reports said that the newspaper has been under government pressure following a string of damning reports on alleged government wrongdoing.
In a statement on Wednesday MATT said it is monitoring “with serious concern developments over the last 24 hours at the Trinidad Guardian newsroom..”
“Reports thus far indicate that senior Government officials have questioned the newspaper's editorial line and this pressure is reportedly resulting in an editorial reshuffle at the newspaper by its publishers.
The Media Association stands in solidarity with MATT President Suzanne Sheppard and MATT Vice President, Judy Raymond, both of whom are part of the Guardian Newspaper's key editorial team and are reported to be personally dealing with fallout from this political interference on the newsroom” the release said.
MATT reminded that “freedom of speech is enshrined in the constitution of Trinidad and Tobago and views with alarm this reported attempt to muzzle and intimidate our colleagues in the newsroom”.
The media group said it would “release further information as it comes to hand and we urge both politicians and media owners to respect the right of press freedom which is enshrined in our Constitution”.
In recent days, the Trinidad and Tobago Guardian has published a series of investigative articles that have been strongly rebutted by the Kamla Persad-Bissessar administration.
In 1996 several journalists walked out of the Trinidad Guardian newspaper to form their own publication, the Independent, after complaining that the then owners of the 96 year-old newspaper had carved in to the Basdeo Panday government.
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