BASSETERRE, St. Kitts – MEMBERS of the local media staged a walkout before the start of yesterday’s (Mar. 10) Parliament reopening in a show of frustration after being barred from entering the Parliamentary Chambers.
Personnel from SKNVibes, WINN FM, The Labour Spokesman, The Democrat, The Observer, and the SUN left the National Assembly pressroom shortly after being refused entry into the chambers to take pictures of the government’s arrival.
They had previously received permission from protocol officers and subsequently entered the Chambers to capture the entrance of the opposition members.
WINN FM Senior Broadcast Journalist Toni Frederick explained how the situation had unfolded and why she had chosen to leave with her colleagues. She stressed that the media had always been very cooperative and that they were “insulted” at the treatment they had received.
“I did understand initially when the Prime Minister’s Press Secretary [Erasmus Williams] indicated we couldn’t sit in the gallery as we usually do, because there are a lot of invited guests and it would be really full. But when we realised there were actual photo opportunities prior to Parliament starting, and there were two private photographers in there, we said surely we can go in to take pictures, and the ushers let us in.
“Subsequently, they said they were notified by Mr. Williams that we were not allowed in there at all. The pressroom is nice and cool, but you can’t take pictures from there because it has a glass panel. I sent Mr. Williams a text asking about it and said we would get a kit of photos. So we just thought fine, if they don’t need us there, we’ll leave.”
“It was so insulting to us, particularly as there were private photographers inside,” Frederick added. “If you have a couple of persons in there, everyone should be able to be there.”
Her sentiments were echoed by the other reporters present, with one even saying they doubted their media house would cover the reopening because of the snub.
SKNVibes later contacted Williams, who in giving his side of the story, said he stood by the decision to permit entry to a limited number of photographers. However, he claimed he had never ordered that the media be barred entirely from the Chamber.
“There are two important parliamentary sessions – the Budget and the Opening. We always want to allow as many invitees inside as possible. The media knew they would be allowed to watch from the pressroom, and arrangements were being made to give them a CD with all the appropriate photos.
“The word I got was that the press wanted to be inside during the session. If there was an indication that it was prior to the start of proceedings, that never would have happened. It was a communication glitch,” he clarified.
