Government calls for TV6 apology to PM

Last Wednesday night, TV6 had interviewed the PM about a video of a man resembling a Cabinet Minister rolling a purported marijuana cigarette.

“In what must be one of the most unprofessional and mocking interviews ever conducted by a local media professional, Mr Kalipersad taunts the Prime Minister whom he had called on her cell phone and placed live on air,” said the statement. “Unable to hear him properly and insisting that she cannot make a comment on a video which she has not seen, Mr Kalipersad can be heard assuming a mocking tone, as he incants in sing-song fashion, ‘Do you recall what I told you was on the video? You don’t remember? I told you four times Madam Prime Minister’.”

The statement alleged that Kalipersad’s contemptuous disregard for the nation’s Head of Government is an embarrassment to his profession and his TV station.

“We leave the viewers of the broadcast to be the judge of the rude behaviour displayed by the CCN TV6 Head of News, many of whom called the Ministry of Communications and the UNC party headquarters to express their dismay and disgust at the treatment meted out to our nation’s Head of Government.”

The statement said Kalipersad should be guided by a professional conduct and act in a dignified manner towards the Prime Minister.

“It is certainly not to the station’s credit that such a flagrant disregard for common courtesy to be so displayed,” said the statement. “Unlike her predecessors, the Honourable Prime Minister has always demonstrated such humility and openness with anyone, including the media, but this access is not permission to be disrespectful. The Ministry of Communications enjoins with members of the public in calling for CCN TV6 to offer an unreserved apology to the Honourable Prime Minister.”