Responsibility, Fairness And The Media In Reporting The Guyanese Illegal Immigrants Issue In Barbados

Submitted by Yardbroom

Roxanne Gibbs - Executive Editor Nation Newspaper

Dr Aubrey Armstrong

Recent lurid details of a female illegal Guyanese immigrant being apprehended, was disseminated by a major Barbados news outlet.  The allegations if true are worthy of investigation by the relevant authorities.  However, the article was so lacking in person details, it was impossible to identify anyone because of the anonymity given.

It is necessary that anonymity is afforded in certain cases, to protect sources from retribution even ridicule, but the level of fairness we are justifiably eager to give illegal immigrants, must also be given to the relevant immigration authorities, the Barbados Government and the citizens of Barbados on whom such allegations can have a negative impact.

If the personnel involved in the allegation cannot be identified, how can appropriate action be taken by the relevant authorities?  Unless there is some dissemination of information the alleged unfairness cannot be properly challenged and rectified.

Major news outlets have a responsibility to ensure accuracy of detail when the good name of a country’s citizens is brought into question.

It is a dereliction of responsibility to allow political bias or an editorial position to get in the way of “accurate reporting”.  A news organization to be held in high esteem by its readers must ensure it can be believed for accuracy and fairness.

This problem of illegal immigration will end and must be solved, but it would be most unfortunate if in the future people are able to refer to a major organization’s article as substantive proof that certain events did occur in Barbados…on just allegations.

Barbados as a whole will have to live with any accusations, not a “particular political Party”.  It is also worthy of note that in our efforts to gain political power and control; that aspiration must never be so overriding that we are prepared to besmirch the good name of our country.

Barbadians now and in the future can hold our heads high, if we know we have acted according to our Laws and with the fairness we have always afforded visitors to our shores.

For any major news outlet to publish stories of a besmirching kind to Barbados, its Immigration Officers, Policemen and its elected Government which cannot be easily corroborated and on which appropriate remedial action – if required – cannot be taken, is nothing less than; I am tempted to say … a disgrace.