The Government and Opposition, have expressed strong condemnation of rape allegations made against a journalist at the Head Quarters of the People’s National Party, PNP, Old Hope Road on Monday night.
The incident, which has sparked widescale concern, has again thrust the Opposition under the spotlight, as one of its members has also been cited for an alleged verbal attack on journalists.
In a release from the governing Jamaica Labour Party, JLP, a third incident is detailed in which a Senior PNP official approached a female reporter intimidatingly. The JLP condemned the actions of the PNP officials and supporters, calling for the party leader to strongly reprimand those involved. The release notes, these attacks pose a threat to press freedom in Jamaica, which recently slipped 20 places on the world press freedom index, to rank 32 among 180 countries. Minister with responsibility for Information, Robert Morgan says these incidents represent a new low in the treatment of journalists in Jamaica. He adds, “I want to assure the press and the public that the safety and security of journalists are a top priority for our Government. Any attack on the press is an attack on our democracy itself, and we will not stand for it. I call on all political parties and their supporters to respect the role of journalists and to refrain from any actions that may threaten their safety or independence”. The latest incident has also rehashed a murky past in which a Senior PNP member and former Minister was taken to task for comments made in jest about flexi rape.
Reporter: Natalia Clarke
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