Cuffie to film censor board: Not about banning films

He made the comments yesterday during the swearing-in ceremony of the 11-member board held at the seventh floor boardroom, NALIS, Port-of-Spain.

“So as you go about your work and you take it into consideration, I don’t want to talk about morals, we have moved away from censoring films to more rating, last film was banned in Trinidad and Tobago was The Last Temptation of Christ.” The Martin Scorsese film, which features Jesus Christ coming off the cross and marrying Mary Magdalene, was also banned in Greece, Turkey, Mexico, Chile, and Argentina.

Cuffie said, “Since then we have not been banning films. Still we need to understand that film content does have an impact. And we need to ensure that the films are shown to the appropriate audiences. And that is part of your job...

to ensure that we have the right framework for viewing film content and I entreat you to go about your job with alacrity and industry and I would like to hope that at the end of the term you have the same number of members that we have here today and we do not have the normal attrition that begins after a few months.” He reported that when appointed, the last board consisted of 15 members and then very shortly there were seven resignations.

He explained that they took a different route to this board than any other previously as each member was called individually and told of the level of work that would be expected.

He also said the new board would be tasked with the opportunity to look at the existing legislation and to see how the legislation can fit the challenge of looking at the film industry.

New board chairman Ingrid Jahra, also CEO of Giant Screen Entertainment Limited (IMAX), told reporters following the swearing- in that she would like to maintain the number on the board and schedule the screenings in a way that all the board members would watch films equitably.

Asked when the first meeting would be Jahra responded that she expected it would be soon.

The other members of the board are: Shea Best, Natasha Boodha, Dion Boucaud, Tammy Cato, Anisa Duncan, Brian Joseph, Mark Joseph, Ellen-Marie Lewis-Bynoe, Rebecca Robinson and Richard Teelucksingh.