THE Royal Bahamas Defence Force has officially denied The Tribune’s application for permission to cover the ongoing Cuban detainee abuse hearings.
According to a response dated October 7, the request to have a reporter present was denied, “due to the sensitive nature of the case”.
This comes after Wayne Munroe, counsel for the marines accused of causing harm to Cuban detainees at the Detention Centre, said yesterday he will apply to the court to stop three independent observers appointed by government from sitting in on the proceedings.
Mr Munroe said the press should be insulted that they were not trusted enough to be able to cover and report the proceedings fairly.
“If anyone should be allowed in there, it should be the press. Now the public has to rely on second hand information, so I have to check with my clients to see if they are satisfied that is a fair way to proceed. It’s either open or its closed. Nothing personal about the selection, but it can’t be open halfway,” he said.
“So reporters cannot be trusted. The press should consider hiring counsel to move the court to be able to report on the matter. If anyone should be permitted in there it should be the press, if something isn’t closed the press always makes an application to be allowed in. Who chose these three people? We weren’t consulted, there are two parties to everything. It seems as they are saying it’s a closed hearing, but permit some people. Why would The Tribune accept that you can’t be trusted to be in, it’s amazing that you aren’t offended.”
Comments
banker 11 years ago
It's because of the old PLP maxim: "Don't believe what your eyes and ears and mind tells you. Believe only what we tell you."
TalRussell 11 years ago
I must side with The Tribune because my concern as a Bahamalander is why PM Christie wants to block the public's need for sunlight on the Cuban abuse "allegations," where ever the truth leads us as a nation. Too disturbing of an pattern when blocking The Tribune from attending the hearings follows on the heels of a Minister of Her Majesty's Crown having recently vacated serious criminal charges against an accused, while stating that he was acting in the best interests of Bahamaland's National Security? What section of Bahamaland's National Security act is it that gives this PM and one of his Ministers such power?
Tarzan 11 years ago
Well said Tal.
blackcat 11 years ago
Of course they'll deny The Tribune- we can't have all our dirty little secrets out for the public to see! After all the flip-flopping and back and forth from Fred and the rest of the PLP; all the drama this has caused both locally and in the US, you'd think we could do better as a country. We will have a hearing, oh yes, but will only provide you with what you need to know. Nevermind thinking for yourselves as individuals and drawing your own conclusions.....As if this case wasn't suspicious enough, as if it wasn't already so poorly handled- let's just make it even more shady.
No party is perfect, but if the government had come out from day one and said that we would persecute any offenders of the law should something come out of the investigation- we would be in a different position today. In the long run, wouldn't it look better and be more ethically sound to admit to a fault of a few, punish them publicly so the world can see and then move on ? All these cover-ups are only drawing more negative attention to the Bahamas and creating more problems.
concernedcitizen 11 years ago
How can you have a hearing ,court case ,or investigation with out the complainants ?? Munroe knows this and is basically playing a part..
henny 11 years ago
Government is afraid of what the press may print. With appointing their own choice to attend they can confer with them as to what should/should not be reported to the public. They are so afraid of being exposed to the world and they know they are definitely wrong. So continue to sweep it under the rug as much as possible.
TalRussell 11 years ago
The Tribune's right to report has nothing at all to do with guilt or innocence but making damn sure the government of the day is operating in the sunlight. Most Bahamalander's ain't going buy the government's case that this is to protect the nation's National Security. Protect what from which enemy of the state?
getrightbahamas 11 years ago
someone tell me where in the world is the media allowed in military hearings? especially where its a national security and diplomatic matter?
banker 11 years ago
It's not a military hearing, and it isn't a national security matter. It is a human rights violation matter, and a contravention of the Geneva conventions that the Bahamas is signatory to.
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