Another international media group has apparently written to the Premier to express serious concern at the Bermuda Government’s highly politicised decision to withdraw advertising from the Royal Gazette. This time it’s from the respected World Association of Newspapers and the World Editors Forum. They know a little bit about freedom of the press, representing 18,000 publications in 102 countries and all.
It is alleged (and widely believed locally) that the advertising cuts are a retaliation for the Gazette’s publication of critical stories about the Government and the newspaper’s activism for freedom of information laws in Bermuda. The cuts came at the same time that the Premier hinted that he would soon introduce new “friendly” media sources to the island.
These attacks on Bermuda’s free press have now been specifically rejected by the Association of Caribbean Media Workers, the Index on Censorship, the UK Press Gazette, Reporters Without Borders, IFEX, the International Freedom of Expression eXchange, the Inter American Press Association (IAPA), Sunshine Week/ American Society of Newspaper Editors.
It’s time for Dr. Brown to back off this autocratic clampdown. No amount of PR spin doctoring will cover up the smell of excess and cover up. With the narrow margin of the PLP victory in the popular vote, it is entirely reasonable for Bermudians to demand more transparency and accountability from our Government.
