MATT condemns Chief Magistrate’s ban

In a media release issued yesterday, the Media Association of Trinidad and Tobago (MATT) stated that matt were dismayed by the turn of events in the inquest into the death of 18-year-old Phillip Seerattan. Chief Magistrate Sherman McNicolls’ ban on the media from publishing photographs, names and addresses of two teenagers who testified in the inquest which he is conducting as coroner, cannot be supported, MATT stated. This to the association is a worrying development which could start something no society committed to a free press can condone.

“While we are not questioning the prerogative of the Chief Magistrate to make his decision, MATT has strong objections and we are yet to be convinced that the decision was a justified one,” stated the release which added “to say that there is no public interest in what is said by witnesses at the inquest is not entirely true”. MATT is also not convinced that the integrity of the 15 and 14 year-old witnesses could be endangered if their names and photographs are published. The release said that it was an inquest, not a trial and that the media association was baffled by the action of the Chief Magistrate. MATT found the ruling very unfortunate and they believe it has dealt a severe blow to press freedom in Trinidad and Tobago.