Credit has to be given where it is due. The local media has developed in recent days a frenzied pursuit of a story which details how a man rose from the dead and waltz out of the Queen Elizabeth Hospital morgue. Of course BU is NOT suggesting we should trivialize the story of Mr. Scantlebury. Whatever the outcome we hope the truth finds its way to the fore.
What is interesting about the case of the dead man who rose again is the important role of the Fourth Estate in the gathering of news and stoking public opinion. It is refreshing to observe the bulldog determination which the local media has shown so far with the Scantlebury story. Should Barbadians reasonably expect that after one week all the questions still being asked should have been answered? A scan of the hospital record-keeping of the morgue and or a view of the surveillance records should easily have resolved this matter by now.
The bigger point to this story is to recognize the power of the media to excite its public. BU can identify several issues of national import which the media has ignored. A good example is the Green Paper on immigration which the government has circulated for public discussion. What about the recently concluded Barbados Labour Power rate hearing? We have had token coverage at best to what is a very important matter. There is the promise by the government while in opposition to bring a focus on our renewable energy policy. Barbados’ dependence on fossil energy is a source of worry. It was not too long ago when the price of a barrel of oil shot-up to the US147 mark the whole country had concerns. Although the price of oil has dropped the concerns are still real. What has our Fourth Estate done to keep this important matter on the front burner?
The persistent coverage of the Scantlebury story is a good example of how the local media can effectively deliver on its role as a member of The Estates of the Realm.
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