(Trinidad Express) Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar yesterday denied that journalist Fazeer Mohammed was fired from State-owned Caribbean New Media Group (CNMG).
Persad-Bissessar also dismissed claims that Mohammed’s removal from CNMG’s First Up morning programme was politically motivated and an act of religious persecution.
Mohammed was sacked from the programme on Saturday by CNMG’s interim CEO Ken Ali, two days after Mohammed was engaged in an interview on with Foreign Affairs Minister Surujrattan Rambachan.
Speaking during a media conference at the Piarco International Airport yesterday after she returned from her overseas trip, Persad-Bissessar said Mohammed’s removal from the programme was part of the company’s restructuring and cost-cutting measures.
She was responding to mounting criticisms that the sudden removal of Mohammed, who was replaced by CEO of the Government Information Services limited (GISL) Andy Johnson, was politically motivated and an act of discrimination against Mohammed, a practicing Muslim.
“I have been advised further, that management did not terminate Mr Mohammed’s appointment, that he was informed that there would be further discussions with respect to placing him where they felt his competencies would be best and therefore I am not of the view that it is a matter that is an attack on the freedom of the press,” she said.
Persad-Bissessar added that several other employees at the State-owned company have been subjected to similar changes.
“I would say first up that I remain committed to freedom of the press. My Government is committed to ensuring freedom of the press and I want to get that up-front. I have absolutely no doubt in my mind that the free press is vital in a democracy. A free press is indeed the fifth estate, as you know, and I have always championed that course for freedom of the press from day one when I was sworn in. You would recall my statements and of course my actions on that day,” she said.
