Is the media practicing self-censorship

THE EDITOR: It is interesting to note that some people in this country continue to promote free speech once it does not affect them. Mr Peter Popplewell who wrote a letter in the newspaper is one such example. In that letter he states that the public should leave Cro Cro alone as it would be an interference with our sacred art form. Here Mr Popplewell who I know personally (who is neither Indo-Trinidadian nor Afro-Trinidadian) like many of his kind, make statements, most likely for his own minority interests. While they may sound full of tolerance and thought, they are really nothing but petty attempts to divide this nation . . . once it does not affect the so-called “French Creole” ruling class.

While I have written many a letter to the media over the years highlighting the interference by these “French Creoles” the said media has refused to publish them with the exception of one letter. Over the past couple of years however, I have noticed the same media publishing almost daily letters supposedly written by Afro- and Indo-Trinidadians bashing each other, most of these letters not mainstream or considered valid comments by the majority of our population. My many letters (five in the year 2003) addressed to all daily newspapers were never published. Is this self-censorship by the media? The question is why are certain people given carte blanche permission to express divisive opinions and comments but others debarred? One now has to wonder about the agenda of the media itself.

L JOSEPH
St Augustine