Turning now to media news, last night you may have heard Assistant Commissioner Chester Williams go on his spiel against our News Director Jules Vasquez. He accused Jules of sensationalizing crime. Now, no harm, no foul, we take his criticism at face value - but Jules Vasquez says that what worries him is the apparent fracture in police media relations - which showed again last week when the Commissioner of Police took a shot at Amandala and Channel 5. Jules discussed it today:..
Jules Vasquez
"His statement and the remarks of the Commissioner the previous week, indicates that there are a very serious fracture, a rift in the relationship between the media and the police. Now, there has always been antipathy or a disharmony between these two groups, the media and the police. To some extent we have to be adversarial, but to have two of the most senior officers, the number one in charge and the number three or four in charge, make such extraordinary go out of their way to make attacks on the professionalism and the conduct of the media within one week. I think it's certainly is caused for concerned and lamentation that something has to be mended in this relationship and I would have hope that that would have happen today. Mr. Williams, we've been exchanging emails about this very same lack of harmony and Mr. Williams had indicated that today, he would have the media at the police station to aired out our grievances and move forward."
"However, he didn't follow up. But what we are seeing now is that Mr. Williams seems to think that because I have maybe criticized him or said things critical of his in another forum, outside of the news, he feels that I am his enemy or that I am harboring some resentment against him, which is the farthest thing from the truth. I really do believe that the police and community working in partnership - that old saying that they like to use the media is the most important part of that, because there is no way the police can reach the community for any reason without the participation of the media and we have participated so generously. I think everyone in the public knows that, but Mr. Williams has another type of expectation. Perhaps he needs a reality show or around the clock coverage and I am not able to give him that and so I think that we have to try, before more harsh words are said, the ComPol said harsh words about the professionalism about the media, Mr. Williams said harsh words. I don't find it offensive or hurtful, but it is indicative of a very serious and consequential fracture in the very important relationship between the public and the police. Because the media is the intermediary. So, I'm saying that fine, we can speak about these things, but at the end of the day there will be a decrease in public safety if there continues to be this antagonism between the police department (I am saying these offensive terms) and the media."
Williams called during this story to say the police-media meeting is st for Thursday.
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