Virgogyul
Dont let this break your spirits Andre.

The PNM will prevails...

Jumbie's Watch

WISE UP T&T -

We laugh when they do it to UNC, we don't realize that it would be out turn next. It was Mark, Goopesing and Kamla now Seethalal. It was Panday singled out from hundreds who did not comply with the Integrity Laws, now it is One Voice being singled out when many PNM marches, Cudjoe marches have been allowed to take place unimpeded.

They came for the UNC, I did not STAND UP.
They came for the media, I did not STAND UP.
They came for the Judiciary, I did not STAND UP.
They came for the Unions, I did not STAND UP.
They came for NGO's, I did not STAND UP
They came for Sat Sharma, I did not STAND UP.
They came for Rowley, I did not STAND UP.
They came for Civil Servants, Coudrey e.c.t, I did not STAND UP.
They came for Bagoo, I did not STAND UP.
When they came for me, there was no one to stand up for me.

He who laughs last laughs best. When you laugh everyone laughs with you, when you cry you cry alone.

WHO KNOWS -

Just like COP, The Medical Association and the Hindu Credit Union Panday and the much vilified UNC might have to accommodate the Press so that they could defend themselves in Parliament. At least they attempted to defend them in their report. I am happy to see it acknowledged, who knows who next it could be Fraser, Ali, Alexander or even Raphael.

The members of the Privilege Committee of the House of Representatives of T&T should research why the press was called the Forth Estate . More than 25 years ago , a Speaker of the House of Assembly in Barbados , banned a reporter , Albert Brandford , of the Daily Nation , from entering the House of Assembly , for life - the ban was later rescinded .
These former colonies believe that they have inherited the Westminister System of Parliament but what they actually practice is what was handed to them from the Colonial office at Whitehall . In the 19th century , british politician Edmund Burke ,referred to the reporters in the press gallery of the House of Commons as the Fourth Estate . He said : "Yonder sits the Fourth Estate , and they are more important than them all" .
The role of the press , in Parliament (the press gallery) is to inform the masses as to what is taking place there and if the actions of the Committee appears to muzzle the press , them , the reporters should stay away as a form of peaceful protest . The members of the Privilege Committee smile from ear to ear , when the reporters communicate their speeches to the masses - yet , they are recommending that the reporter , Andre Bagoo should be banned from the media gallery for the remainder of the session . The minority report which was submitted by the 3 UNC of the committee should be supported by the members of the H-of-R .
The PNM members of the Privilege Committee do not know that the reporters in the media gallery are the eyes and ears of the MASSES - also referred to as the electorate .
"Power corrupts , absolute power corrupts ; absolutely" . Lord Acton .
ATW-Barbados .

PM Manning and the PNM bunch stand in solidarity again to show that dictatorship rule. Many PNM ministers have grown use to their outlandish lifestyle, even when they know that some of the decisions made are wrong they will support it out of fear. Way to go T&T. We still have some freedom left, use it to vote wisely. Manning knows the tool to use, when the people shout give them something 'free'. For the minority that accept to eat the bread the devil need, the populace will pay the ultimate sacrifice. Manning probaby secured a home in Panama already as the table will turn, how long is this piece of string.

Just another attack on freedom of the press in a developing police state. The Press must take a stand and speak out and speak up. Our democracy is at stake as this out of control regime continues to trample on our rights and freedoms. Let us hear what MATT has to say. Today it's Newsday, tomorrow the Guardian and the following day the Express.

When Panday ill advisedly attacked the Guardian's Madeira there was widespread outrage. Let there be consistency.

We next I guess. Go on Neil, play yourself. At least, for now.

I was sent an interesting link by a friend. Entitled “Fourteen Defining Characteristics Of Fascism”, Dr. Lawrence Britt identified some of the characteristics by examining several fascist regimes.

It is interesting that I identified the following points I consider to be applicable to the PNM and Pa-trick's governance. Keep in mind that these are only what I consider, and to get the rest of the list you need to click the link above.

1. * Powerful and Continuing Nationalism - Fascist regimes tend to make constant use of patriotic mottos, slogans, symbols, songs, and other paraphernalia. Flags are seen everywhere, as are flag symbols on clothing and in public displays. (I wonder if the cost of the flag, example $2 million, has anything to do with it? Gary Hunt did speak of nationalism, did he not?)
2. * Disdain for the Recognition of Human Rights - Because of fear of enemies and the need for security, the people in fascist regimes are persuaded that human rights can be ignored in certain cases because of "need." The people tend to look the other way or even approve of torture, summary executions, assassinations, long incarcerations of prisoners, etc. (I know, you are saying that there is not so much of this at the moment but there are certain clues that point to this coming).
3. * Identification of Enemies/Scapegoats as a Unifying Cause - The people are rallied into a unifying patriotic frenzy over the need to eliminate a perceived common threat or foe: racial , ethnic or religious minorities; liberals; communists; socialists, terrorists, etc. (Again, a sort of grey area?).
4. * Rampant Sexism - The governments of fascist nations tend to be almost exclusively male-dominated. Under fascist regimes, traditional gender roles are made more rigid. Divorce, abortion and homosexuality are suppressed and the state is represented as the ultimate guardian of the family institution. (Uh huh, we are seeing definite signs of this).
5. * Religion and Government are Intertwined - Governments in fascist nations tend to use the most common religion in the nation as a tool to manipulate public opinion. Religious rhetoric and terminology is common from government leaders, even when the major tenets of the religion are diametrically opposed to the government's policies or actions. (We can see the increasing religiosity in our great great leader).
6. * Corporate Power is Protected - The industrial and business aristocracy of a fascist nation often are the ones who put the government leaders into power, creating a mutually beneficial business/government relationship and power elite. (Anyone see Andre Montiel, Salybia & Boynes, etc).
7. * Disdain for Intellectuals and the Arts - Fascist nations tend to promote and tolerate open hostility to higher education, and academia. It is not uncommon for professors and other academics to be censored or even arrested. Free expression in the arts and letters is openly attacked. (One word – Imbert-cile).
8. * Rampant Cronyism and Corruption - Fascist regimes almost always are governed by groups of friends and associates who appoint each other to government positions and use governmental power and authority to protect their friends from accountability. It is not uncommon in fascist regimes for national resources and even treasures to be appropriated or even outright stolen by government leaders. (Do I really need to comment here?).
9. * Fraudulent Elections - Sometimes elections in fascist nations are a complete sham. Other times elections are manipulated by smear campaigns against or even assassination of opposition candidates, use of legislation to control voting numbers or political district boundaries, and manipulation of the media. Fascist nations also typically use their judiciaries to manipulate or control elections. (Don't forget, using strong-arm tactics by community leaders, promising land to community leaders, giving lucrative contracts to community leaders...).

So out of 14 identifiable characteristics of Fascism, I have identified 9.

Until this morning... when we see a 10th:

* Controlled Mass Media - Sometimes the media is directly controlled by the government, but in other cases, the media is indirectly controlled by government regulation, or sympathetic media spokespeople and executives. Censorship, especially in war time, is very common.

Jumbie's Watch

I am waiting to see the solidarity of the members of the press on this issue.Would They fold under this tinpot dictator or refuse to attend the various propaganda events like Cabinet press conferences or even boycott parliament.But then there is the power of the dollar for Government ads.This repression wouldn't stop because the PNM is under intense scrutiny for the UDECOTT SCAM which has the potential for bringing down this Government

....we're not too surprised by this turn of events since it's a normal step on the pathway to where our Country is heading....one could say that we're being burhammed or even mugabied.....

Just look at the Trinidad Express during the course of this week digging 6 feet deep to put away the outcries of Justice Volney. Shouldn't we instead pay heed to such outcries especially when members of our judicial system (from Chief Justice in his opening remarks of law term; Law association and now individual judges) begin to voice strong concerns over the political direction of the country and the independence and the need for strengthening judicial system??? It is sad to see The Express treating the remarks of Justice Volney in isolation of all the growing tendencies towards stifling expression of opinions, killing of opposing ideas no matter how idependent and subtle erosion of right to civil and peaceful protests.

The actions of the State towards Bagoo should therefore be placed within context. Moreover, the local press like the judiciary needs to start strongly defending its rights in these uncertain times and seek strength from other international media bodies. Can we expect this from MATT?????

THE STENCH OF HYPOCRICY -
You people fail to surprise anymore. If I had a dollar for everytime you complain about how biased the press is, how inaccurate their reporting is, how sensationalist their headlines are, how curryfavouring the reporters are, I could afford to live in One Woodbrook Place.
One thing is certain, when it comes to inconsistency, you folks are the most consistent.

In calling for a free press and strong media we are in fact supporting the media; In asking for transparency we are supporting the media; In providing constructive criticism we are supporting the media.

'Kill one, frighten a thousand' is an old strategy. People, the Fourth Estate is under attack! And the media seems to be taking all the licks in virtual silence. Is it because of the 'manna'? or their political affiliation?

What is sickening is that it seems like 'they own whip cutting they tail' Check who are the 'Communications Specialists'(aka spinbowlers) in each gov. agency? One would think that these former media men and women would stand up for their former profession. But the almighty dollar seems to have morphed them into the 'field slave' being promoted into the whip weilding overseer?

My stomach turns every time one lawmaker or the other talks in codes about burning one newspaper or the other in the 'Square', or of of boycotting. Reminds me of Venezuela and Guyana, where, in the latter, journalists have been murdered by 'unknown' gunmen from time immemorial? Remember the massacre there some 2 or so years ago? We haven't reached there yet, but I remember reading an article by the great express writer, Owen Baptiste, in which he claimed that after the publication of an article 'Grab for power'(in which an allegation was made against a faction opposed to then PM Robinson),he (OB) received a phone call one night instructing him to 'go to the post box'! Needless to say, he hid in his house and that probably saved his life.

I would not even try to have you recall anti-media political events like: burning of the Guardian; calling it the 'Jamette of St Vincent Street'; one sitting TT Prime Minister causing supporters to attack an NBS crew covering an Arima political meeting in the 1980s; another one declaring to a frenzied and some intoxicated 'lynch mob' at Mid Centre Mall 'do them first before they do you'. And now the media's own 'Mr-We-Made-Mistakes-Big-Brother' appearing to be the smiling 'media assassin' cussing and cuddling the media?

Hell, they sometimes appear to have invaded the blogs spots here too, flagging contributions, telling people what to say and how to say it, ferret out the undotted i and the uncrossed t,who to support and who not to support. Man, these control aliens seem to be everywhere!!!(Don't get me wrong, they have the same right to write just like me and you)

The Fourth Estate, the free conscience of civilization, the civilized and the uncivilized, appears to be under sustained attack. Man, you don't even know if the press is getting kill by 'friendly fire' or 'unfriendly fire' or if it's 'collateral damage'!!

No one, especially the 'bosses', ever likes to hear that their 'bam-see' is showing, but the role of a free press seems to be, for me, to tell whoever's 'bam-see' is exposed, that his 'bam-see' is glaringly receiving natural sunlight. Like it or not. Otherwise, we'll all end up a society of 'bam-sees' if we didn't stand up for freedom and liberty.

(PS. If you have to flag me, It'll take nothing less that a 2 or even an 800 million dollar (in USdollars) flag please!)

ajfyzabadbutlertown

“Since truth and reason have maintained their ground against false opinions in league with false facts, the press, confined to truth, needs no other legal restraint”. Thoman Jefferson's Second Inaugural Address 1805.