Submitted by Fair Play

Yesterday, The Jamaica Gleaner newspaper rushed to the defence and support of the Nation newspaper, with which, by its own admission, it has “fraternal relations”. However, right thinking Barbadians, as well as those knowledgeable Jamaicans living here, should point out to the Gleaner that, unlike some other countries – that will remain nameless – the office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) in Barbados is a strictly independent one. So, to raise the bogeyman of political interference is total poppycock, and does not befit a reputable newspaper as The Gleaner. Wrong is wrong, regardless of who does it. Enough said on that score.

Now, the same Gleaner newspaper ought to remember that, just a few decades ago, one of its outstanding editors, the late J C Proute, warned its readers against such lecherous and off-colour reporting.  In one of his weekly columns, and subsequently during a guest lecture at the Caribbean Institute of Media and Communication (CARIMAC) in 1980, JC termed such acts “journalistic gaucherie”.

The Gleaner’s spurious argument that “the faces of the minors engaged in the sexual act (were) blurred and unrecognisable”, hence it was ok to publish the picture, is nonsensical. The salient point is that photo was accompanied by (juxtaposed against) the most graphic, detailed and explicit account of the sex act. Nothing was left to the imagination. PLAIN PORNOGRAPHY!

Indeed, many of us in Barbados wondered why it took so long for the police and the  DPP to bring these charges, since weekend after weekend – read I [Lie] Confess, Flying Fish & Cou Cou, and Pudding & Souse –  the most salacious stories, vulgarity and sexual sleaze are passed off as investigative journalism. More like ‘gutter journalism’ if you ask me, written by the perverted and clearly designed to titillate the scabrous sentiments of the depraved.

We are well aware that a particular news medium in Barbados relishes and thrives in sensationalism, sewer politics, scandal and gossip.They tell me, those things sell newspapers. Well, Rupert Murdoch’s News of The World thought so too. At long last, they found out the opposite, and were brought to Christian feeling.

This tabloid’s day is also coming. It may not be with this case, but ‘One Day Coming Soon’. Mark my word!

Click on the link and read The Gleaner’s Editorial. It sounds more like, what we in Barbados call “taking up fire-rage”. The case is sub-judice in this country, so you get your affiliate in another jurisdiction to raise the spectre of collusion and toss suspicion at the government. Nice Try! But, pray tell me, how low can you go! The Gleaner would want its affiliate to go scot-free and continue to publish smut with impunity. Mind Your Own Business! Do Not Interfere.

Who are you to tell this country that we are  “expending energy, public resources and valuable time in pursuing The Nation rather than more immediate and pertinent issues”. In turn, why not expend your energy and resources in helping Portia Simpson, the Jamaican government and people with the myriad of problems and issues you are facing daily. We do not have to list them; you know them well.