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Statement of response on Minister’s attack on Virgin Islands News Online
While members of the House of Assembly have a privilege because no legal actions can be brought against them for what they say while in the House of Assembly, whether it is libelous, malicious or false, the people expect that they will not abuse that honoured privilege.
Mr. Vanterpool referred to an article posted on Virgin Islands News Online dated December 16, 2011 entitled: ‘Will Dr. Drexel Glasgow be removed from Public Works?'
Firstly, Virgin Islands News Online unequivocally stands by its sources and the article in question. If Hon. Vanterpool had read the article in its entirety, he would have not been led to make such an erroneous and misguided statement in the House of Assembly on December 19, 2011 against this news site.
We submit that the Minister may have had all good intentions in the protection of public officers, however, we strongly feel he was ill advised. Nowhere in the article about the Acting Public Works Director did Virgin Islands News Online state that Mr. Vanterpool or his Acting Permanent Secretary were interviewed.
In fact the article clearly stated that, “both the Minister for Communications and Works Mark Vanterpool and Acting PS Arlene Smith-Thompson were not available up to press time for comments”. Therefore, we find it sad that Mr. Vanterpool would suggest to the public that Virgin Islands News Online was attributing a quote to him or the Acting Permanent Secretary.
It was clear in the story that the source of the information was neither the Minister nor the Acting Permanent Secretary, where it was stated in the article that, “Sources inside the NDP Administration told this news site ..."
Virgin Islands News Online's Board of Directors believe this was either maliciousness by the Minister or an unfortunate situation of misinformation by his advisors.
In addition to this issue, the article indicated four other facts that were either attributed to its confidential sources or otherwise verifiable. Firstly, it was alleged by sources that the Minister was not impressed with Dr. Glasgow’s performance and was actively seeking a replacement. To this statement, the Minister responded:
“As Minister, Madame Speaker, I must state that I do hold Dr. Glasgow’s professional skills in very high regard. It is also my intention, Madame Speaker, to continue to recognize Dr. Glasgow’s talent and technical insight in significant ways as we work to collectively strengthen the Ministry and its departments and carry out the National Democratic Party’s manifesto promises to the people of the Virgin Islands in particular with reference to infrastructural developments.”
Such a carefully worded statement did not address the issue as to whether or not the Minister was impressed with Dr. Glasgow’s performance and was not actively having discussions about a possible replacement. There could be no misunderstanding that the confidential sources provided information which has not been disproved by the Minister’s statement.
Secondly, there were many options under discussion for Dr. Glasgow. Nowhere in the article was it suggested what the final outcome of the discussions will be, since it was clear that matters were only at the discussion stage. What we found so interesting and supportive of our own article was a statement in the House of Assembly on the same day by Premier Orlando Smith.
Dr. Smith said in his statement that, “In the very few instances where his Administration has found it necessary to ask that Public Officers be reassigned, it has been after discussion with the officer and I am pleased to say that in all instances the officer has stood to benefit from the change.”
This could have inferred that as stated in the article, discussions have taken place.
Thirdly, reference was made to the 2009 and 2010 Standing Finance Committee deliberations which is a matter of public record. The Minister for Communications and Works did not attempt to address those very public records in his statement.
Finally, a statement of fact was made about the number of permanent secretaries under whom Dr. Glasgow has worked and the fact that he has not been recommended for permanent appointment to the post of Director of Public Works. This, again is a statement of fact and was not addressed by the Minister for Communications and Works in his statement of Monday December, 19, 2011.
Clearly, we believe the Minister abused his privilege in the House and Virgin Islands News Online cannot challenge the Minister for such blatant abuse of privilege.
While some local media houses are again gloating over another deliberate attack on Virgin Islands News with their own sensational headlines and hash comments/blogs, this state of affairs raises serious concerns for the future of all press in the Virgin Islands, where government officials could abuse the press without consequences.
We believe that if one is attacking the media for partisan purposes as suggested by others, one must strive to be accurate, fair, ethical and not abuse a Parliamentary privilege.
We, humbly and politely but strongly suggest that Mr. Vanterpool return to the article and read it again.
If it was also an attempt by some to get at a Virgin Islands News Online founder, someone who has fully left the company well over a year ago, then the good legislator can be courageous enough to say that, but by trying to tarnish the good reputation of Virgin Islands News Online’s professional reporters who have developed a history of being accurate, creditable and sound in up-holding standards in the industry, then this is a low point for democracy in these Virgin Islands.
Virgin Islands News Online will continue to up-hold all standard of ethics in the news business and continue to protect our sources, as well as respect the rights of all citizens.
We continue to be guided by the rule of law and are keenly aware of the serious responsibilities of a free press in a modern Virgin Islands.
Our record over the life of Virgin Islands News Online has already clearly demonstrated that we have no agenda, we are extremely fair in our reporting and we have no scores to settle.
We continue to thank our more than seven thousand readers per day and many advertisers for their continued support. We also thank the many persons who have called, very much overwhelmingly after the Minister's statement, to register their renewed support and continued business.
Our only objective is to bring the news impartially and factually, and that remains the commitment of Virgin Islands News Online's very professional team of reporters.
Please see link to story in question below
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