PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad – The media freedom organisation Reporters Without Borders has called for the creation of an independent commission of enquiry into revelations that the confidential phone records of Anika Gumbs-Sandiford, a reporter with the Trinidad Guadian, were illegally passed onto a government agency here.
The organization has also expressed concerned about the effect of a smear operation against certain journalists and the government’s desire to force the privately-owned broadcast media to carry official announcements free of charge as in some Latin America countries, where they are called “cadenas.”
“An attempt was clearly made to violate the confidentiality of Anika Gumbs-Sandiford’s sources, although this is one of the cornerstones of freedom of information,” Reporters Without Borders said.
“The case recalls the one at the start of the year involving Newsday’s Andre Bagoo, who was also investigating a conflict within a state institution” the organisation said. (CMC)
