Criticism a 2-way street

UNITED STATES Ambassador to Trinidad and Tobago, Dr Roy Austin, yesterday declared that criticism is a two-way street in any democracy and the media must learn to accept criticism too. Speaking with reporters after the launch of the Caribbean Single Market and Economy at the Crowne Plaza, the American Ambassador said his comments at a Commonwealth Journalists Association (CJA) function at UWI on Sunday were misinterpreted, and he did not believe there was any anti-American sentiment in Trinidad and Tobago.

“I don’t think that you can blame an Ambassador for standing up when his Head of State is held up to ridicule. It was my opinion and I strongly believe that the media is not perfect. That’s what I commented on and, by the way, I had absolutely no idea that there was a CJA function going on there,” Austin stated. The Am-bassador said he was supposed to speak at a subsequent function at UWI but, because of a mix-up, that function was merged with the CJA’s. However, Austin said he did not believe his comments were without merit. He declared: “What better audience to address about press freedom than a set of journalists. The media doesn’t hesitate to criticise individuals and groups. I don’t know what was wrong with the remarks. They were on target. The media is not perfect and they ought to get their house in order. Shouldn’t one ever question the media?

The media are always questioning others. Don’t I have a right to free speech? Shouldn’t my views be presented to the public too? After all, the real reason for your freedom of speech is the public’s right to know. If you are trying to prevent the public from knowing, then what are you doing? Why insist on freedom of speech?” Austin added that “one hopes that sometimes criticism would help people to improve” but some people take criticism the wrong way. The Ambassador supported Prime Minister Patrick Manning’s views about the media’s imperfections but noted that no one was “jumping all over him.” Austin added that it was only after reading a Newsday article on Tuesday that he “understood a little better what had occurred.”