Dear Editor,
I have been waiting to see or hear the head of GO-INVEST issue a public apology to your newspaper and journalist Judy Fitzpatrick over the Buddy’s Hotel sale issue, but it appears as though I might end up like Bob Marley. I might find myself waiting in vain.
The GO-INVEST Chief Executive Officer called a press conference to lash out at the Stabroek News and the journalist who reported on the issue from St Maarten. He not only criticized the article, but openly questioned the credibility of Ms Fitzpatrick, making her out to be some sort of Jason Blair (the New York Times reporter who made up his own stories).
Mr Da Silva even questioned whether any interview even took place, stating that he did not believe the businessman who invested in the hotel was on the island at the time of the interview. All of Mr Da Silva’s concerns were shot down when the investor himself released a statement, indicating that not only did he grant Ms Fitzpatrick an interview at his St Maarten home but that he also may have mistakenly misled her as it related to the price he paid for the hotel. He paid $15M and says he will be investing an additional $10M.
That statement was issued last week. Mr Da Silva who apparently pays close attention to the media must have noticed the statement, but rather than issue an apology, the gentleman remains quiet and appears to be riding off into the sunset after his high noon showdown with the media. I would suggest to Mr Da Silva that he jumps off of his high horse and issues an apology to the Stabroek News and the young journalist whom he attacked.
For far too long, the local media has been used as the scapegoat for everything that goes wrong under the sun. Every Tom, Dick Harry, Celeste and Jaipaul appears to be joining the “cuss out the media” campaign. The campaign needs to end now.
Yours faithfully,
Gordon Moseley
