Tell more positive stories of TT

THE EDITOR: Coming from me I am aware that you may be inclined to trash this, I wish you wouldn’t. I respect the rights of free speech of journalists and I respect the rights of journalists to be able to publish the reports unfettered and unhindered by political and/or other influences.

However, when news is being read through the information superhighway via the World Wide Web, one must be careful that through its publication, the image of the country from which the news is being published, is not tarnished. I am aware of the activities of certain politicians whose goal is to discredit the present Government and who are making use of the foreign press to achieve their goals and objectives. The highlighting of crime which is supposedly spiralling out of control is giving credence to their allegations that the Government, especially the Prime Minister, is part of the problem by his alleged affiliation with criminals. Such reports accompanied by graphic pictures not only cast a dim light on the Government itself, but it overshadows the island paradise that TT really is.

Every person from Trinidad and Tobago I have spoken to has been expressing the very same concerns I have, and as one of the persons responsible for some of the negativity by actions, never by affiliation with any political party, it is my responsibility to do my part to project my country’s image in a different and positive light, so that people wishing to visit our fair shores will do so with confidence. My first step is to appeal to you the journalists to include more humanitarian stories, sharing the love and goodwill of the people of TT with everyone who reads your newspapers worldwide. Our people have always been famous for their hospitality towards strangers and visitors, and I am asking you to help me by accentuating more of the positives so that your readers will not walk away with the image of Trinidad being a crime-ridden country with a Government who encourages and supports crime.

ANGELA NELSON
Port-of-Spain