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Winston Wright, UIC Vice President of the county of Cornwall, and UIC President Joseph Patterson
Jamaica's third registered political party, the United Independents' Congress (UIC), says it is being ignored by some local media outlets.
UIC's Vice President of the county of Cornwall, Winston Wright, has accused some media entities of not publishing press releases on national issues sent by the party.
"We send it to mainstream media, alternative media, every media source that has an email address, the UIC sends a press release. I've gone so far as interacting directly with media persons, seen them on the streets, stopped them to say, 'Hey, brother, you're not publishing my press release.' And he said, 'Here's my card, send me one next time.' And two days later, I send my press release and no response," he complained.
"Other media outlets have gone so far as to interview the non-registered or defunct political movements, instead of coming to the UIC, whose contact details are well publicised," Mr. Wright added.
The UIC said it has voiced its concern in a letter to the Press Association of Jamaica but has received no response to date.
Mr. Wright was speaking with Radio Jamaica News following a rally hosted by UIC at Mandela Park in Half-Way Tree, St. Andrew on Friday.
UIC President Joseph Patterson suggested the supposed ignoring of the political party is in an effort to maintain the status quo.
"There is an aknowledged position that there are two parties in Jamaica, and the interests that exist wants to keep it that way. That is why it's very hard for us to get a bank account. That is why it's very difficult for us to be in the news cycle. That is why you don't hear anything about us from night to night on the news media," he argued.
Mr. Patterson said the party, which has been in existence since December 2, 2019, has "done tremendous amount of work across the landscape in Jamaica", but the media must decide that they will report on what is being done by all political parties in the country.
While the UIC has a bank account with a community based institution, the party president noted that it has been difficult to acquire a commercial bank account, but this might change soon.
"Since 2017, we have been trying to get a bank account. I get to understand that right now, one of the banks are very close to giving us one, and we hope it really happens," he said.
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