St. Maarten Private Eye

The term '4th Estate' is used to describe the role of the media within a healthy progressive democratic society, in particular the role of journalists and print newspapers.

I'd like to talk about St. Maarten's '4th Estate' and it's role in our healthy progressive democratic society, the one we hope one day to have.

Click here to Read More
____________________________________________________________

A few weeks ago this letter appeared in the Daily Herald, the reader upset, in particular about the lack of reporting on local events. Now, his claim that the Today has raced past the DH is ridiculous of course and I will show why a little later on in this blog post, but he does raise some very good points and questions for the Daily Herald and kudo's for them printing it too.

One of the problems with the DH is not that it prints too much 'hard' or 'foreign' news, it's that it prints far too much 'advertising' news. By this I mean the articles made to appear as news, but which are really just advertising for some businesses new products or promotion. WIB has a new cash card, Grand Marche is raffling yet another car, Chippie has a new service, ect. In your face advertising, they want us to read them thinking it is news.

A second problem I have with the DH is that far too many news articles, in particular those involving public figures and politicians, are written almost directly as if from the tape recording made by the reporter. Very rarely do the politicians get questioned on the statements they make, its a "he said, she said" style of writing.

My last problem with the Daily Herald is the complete lack of any investigative reporting that touches on government corruption or scandle. They may write a report, often based on what was reported elsewhere, but the general attitude is to keep it all at arms length, never to get in close and graple with it. This is not to say they don't have good journalists, because they do and they produce some great investigative work, just not in the area St. Maarten needs it.

By no means do I mean to slur them in anyway by also pointing out the 'fear factor' which would be involved with this kind of investigative reporting. It's a small island, doors close quickly and life can be made uncomfortable and awkward if you step on the wrong toes. I also possess this "fear factor' by the way, I too understand that there are mean people out there.

All in all, lets face it, the Daily Herald is no Grey Lady, but they do a reasonable job of reporting the news on the island, just not to any great depth.

Now, moving on swiftly to the Today, which certainly has sped past the Daily Herald in terms of entertainment, a good thing only if that's what you seek in a news paper. Don't get me wrong, they to write some interesting articles and stories and sometimes their news items have more or different information than those in the DH. However, every now and then, about once a week, along comes a story or editorial that just leaves you stunned.

Or giggling hysterically.

Take for example this story they ran on the 5th, about a family who believed that a relative had been killed by a Jumbie in a haunted house. You really should read it, it's so full of wonderful Caribbean talk.

Anyway, you are probably thinking it's a one off, just one of those bizarre oddball stories and the Today is just going along with it, keeping the relatives happy with a story on their concerns, it is humorous after all, at least to those of us who don't believe in Jumbies. You would be mistaken.

Two days later on the 7th, with a small front page header too, the Today announced that a doctor had confirmed that the man had indeed died of a heart attack, something one of the relatives just didn't want to believe. " I never seen a man die of a heartattack with foam. No sah!". Which does lead me to wonder just how many heart attacks he has seen before, if any.

I'm sure those of you out there who were concerned about this story are relieved to hear this news and just to be doubly sure about it, the Today reported today, the 13th, that the Landlord had proved the house was not haunted. It would appear he turned up at the Today claiming that he and others had lived in the house with no problems, he even bought along two former tenants and stack of papers to back him up. Are you giggling yet?? Please note that the Today checked the papers to confirm what the man was saying.

He was angry no doubt about all the false rumors being spread by his tenants, the article makes no mention of the Today's participation in this. I imagine he is having trouble collecting rent, "We no go pay rent, dis a jumbie house!" or worry that he will have trouble finding tenents in the future. Me? I'd be concerned some Jumbie nut would burn it down after all the credence the Today has given this story, the rumors and those that believe in such nonsense.

Now, take a few minutes to recover because I have more, or rather, the Today has more....

On the 6th, between the first two Jumbie stories, the today has another investigative piece about how the air pumps at gas stations around the island, don't work. Seeing the headline, St Maarten running out of air I took a deep breath and dived in.

It's quite true really, most of the air pumps on the island are dysfuctional, usually at the times you need to find one the most. But really, when it comes down to it, the motorist has several options, such as carrying a spare, a fix-a-flat can or even one of those small pumps you plug into a lighter socket, they have them at Cost U Less I hear, cheap too. The motorists also have the option, in the day time at least, of stopping at one of the numerous tire dealers who also have pumps. Even making sure they have good tires is an option that many out there should consider carefully too.

But the article isn't what I want to bring your attention to, it's the Editorial of the same day that proclaimed that "Customers have right to free air!"

The Today, or at least the editor of the day, believes that

...when a company is making money on it's sales and services, there are certain things that company should do to keep the public happy".

Like provide free air?. I think it escapes the writer and even Frank Mingo that providing an air pump is an option for gas stations, not an obligation. The idea is that people coming in to the gas station to use the air pump are also quite likely to buy gas too, or something at the store. In the same way the stores on front street blast their airconditioning (disgracefully) into the street, it's to entice people in.

Frank, as former minister of finance should realise that by investing in fixing his pump, obtaining some spare parts and perhaps putting it in a place more easily supervised and secure would help his business. Hey, if he does it right he could start marketing his station as "The one where the air pump always works!"

The Today has problems, of that there is no doubt. Just last week they announced the fall of the Dutch government with a front page story and headline two years old. and this mistake was quite funny too.

Animals R Us?

They also ran afoul of Gromyko Wilson this past week, using a photo of his child at school for this article about abuse of children's rights. (We caught the photo too, so if you read this Gromyko then let us know if you would like us to remove it.) The attitude at the Today doesn't appear to have been helpful, strange when they use or have used so many of Gromyko's own news photos in the past. In fact it seems like the same sort of non appologetic attitude we witnessed in the reply to the outcry from their outragous Gay Bashing Editorial.

Gromyko also brings up the issue of the staff at the Today. We must remember that Leonard Gildarie was given a run around and he was denied his bids to get working papers as a journalist for the National, this is why he originally got deported. The real reasons are of course that he trod on the wrong people toes too often and his leaving also saw the end of the National. If I recall correctly, I believe one of the reasons cited in refusing him the permits was that journalist jobs are reserved for locals. (Someone correct me if I have it wrong.)

The Today has several staff members about whom it would be quite legitimate to questions on their status here.

It's difficult to condemn the Today, because from time to time they do have important news and articles, even a decent editorial now and then. But when it claims to be a newspaper whilst printing articles like this which was blogged about back in October, or using misleading headlines like this then questions have to be asked. About how much damage they are doing and how much they are holding the people of the island from moving forwards.

What exactly are they trying to achieve by headlining that the Island Idiot represents the Public?

The scary thing is, they believed the Jumbie story, it's the only explaination for them checking the guys paperwork too. This is disturbing to say the least.

I suspect from now on, whenever you think of Jumbies, you will giggle. But if you can find some time, please share your views and opinions on our islands '4th Estate'.

Flipper

PS, about the Toady thing. I thought it was appropriate after reading
this, which reminded me of this bizarre occurance back in November.

This of course, is no surprise.

Flipper's blog | add new comment