Times writer has no plans for apology

Los Angeles Times staff writer, Carol Williams, will not apologise or respond to the Trinidad and Tobago Government concerning her story — “Kidnappings Send a Chill Through Sunny Trinidad,” carried in the paper on January 2. Minister of National Security Martin Joseph wrote to the newspaper on Wednesday complaining that the article gave “an incredibly biased, incorrect and uninformed view of Trinidad and Tobago.” In his letter, the minister said the article was devoid of any thorough investigation and asked for an apology for TT citizens as well as an immediate retraction.

The ministry’s communications specialist Judy-Ann Babwah yesterday said they had not received a response from the newspaper. Speaking to Newsday from her Miami office, Williams said officials from the ministry called her on Wednesday and faxed a letter to her. She said the letter was addressed to the Miami Herald and she was confused, since they took the story from the LA Times off the wire. Williams said she did extensive research and investigations before writing the story. She said she would not respond to the ministry and the matter was in the hands of her editors. She said she was “quite confident that the newspapers will stand by the story.” “I am not dissuaded. From my impressions, kidnapping is a serious problem in Trinidad and Tobago.” An editor at the LA Times said the matter was being dealt with by a readers’ representative.