Misleading Headlines! Why?
It is interesting to note that so many of us are interested in freedom of speech, freedom of expression and freedom of information, it is interesting to note how many are quick to misinform others; it is also interesting to note how quickly we are to believe everything that we read.
We all know and realize how influential journalist, whether print or broadcast can have on their readers and listeners, however, this does not give them the right to misinform or mislead others. Of course within the journalism profession, there are the “Professionals” and “Non-Professionals” and we have both here in the Virgin Islands.
On Wednesday evening April 2nd, on my radio show Straight Talk, I dedicated a segment of the show to past and upcoming Festival. in addition to my comments there were questions posed to the chairman of the festival committee and other responsible individuals. The following day, the online site BVINews.com and on Friday morning ZBVI radio station both headlines were “Talk show host feels expats should not be allowed to participate in festival."
In the Thursday edition of the Beacon a very well known Caribbean lawyer that does a lot of writing, Oscar Ramjeet, read the article online and wrote his interpretation. I am positive none of the bloggers had listened to my Show. After reading some of Ramjeets’ article I found out that he was working and living right here on Tortola in the Virgin Islands.
I called him by phone and asked him if he had heard my radio show and his response was no. So we discussed the possibility of meeting and discussing the issue with me. He said he would call me the next day, Friday so I gave him both my telephone numbers but as to date I have not heard from him. One would expect that someone who is an attorney and does so much writing would try to get to the truth but I was wrong in that assumption.
For all the bloggers and Ramjeet and those that listened to the sound bite that Friday morning on ZBVI, you can come to my office and listen to a recording of the show or you can contact ZBVI at 284 494 2250 and purchase a copy of the entire show and hear exactly what I said and the questions I asked.
I am not trying to convince anyone because, haters will remain haters and only who want to learn will learn. Then there are those who hear what they want to hear, see what they want to see and believe what they want to believe and nothing in the world will change that kind of attitude.
People that listen to my radio show hear these words every time for the past years. ”We need to redevelop our national pride; and national pride begins with our identity and our identity is first and foremost our name, which is the Virgin Islands. Then we proceed with respect for our constitution; our national anthem; our flag; each other; our leaders and the offices that they hold.
And equally important the leaders must have respect for the people. National Pride is not a phrase, but a serious commitment. Once we understand these things and practice them, we will develop unity among ourselves; Then and only then that those who come to live and work among us will have respect for us and unite with us to fight our struggles to maintain a decent country that all of us can be proud of”. Have you ever read any comments or heard any comments on the airwaves in regards to what I just wrote? Of course not. Good news does not attract readers, listeners or advertisers.
We must understand that there is a big difference between History and His Story. Finally let me tell you, “facts and statistics will/may change but the truth remains the same. Straight Talk is on the 1st Wednesday evening of each month at 8pm on Radio ZBVI. And when I write an article or blog I put my name I don’t hide.
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15 Responses to “Misleading Headlines! Why?”
With the hundreds of foreign nationalities here who are only interested in raiding and exploiting the BVI of its resources and hate all things BVI outside of that agenda, as optimistic as I am, I don’t think that is possible. Plus bear in mind that the NDP Gov is made up of non BVI nationals so you can understand that they are not interested in BVI culture and identity. They just signed over a mega contract to a Jamaican national, so all that money will go out of the country to strengthen Jamaica and further weaken BVI. And then the same NDP Gov is going to turn around and say that they need more money and want to tax those here, not recognizing that they had the money, but they just keep giving it away to all of these outside interests. What they don’t give away, the other foreign nationals money gram & western union it out and wire it out.
To be perfectly honest, I think BVI best chance for survival of culture and identity is to join forces with their sister islands, the USVI. BVI and USVI started out with the same culture but over the years, BVI let too many nationalities in which diluted its culture and further eroded it. It is amusing that these same people who hold such unadulterated hate and disdain for BVIslanders, wish to partake in BVI emancipation celebrations.
festival, jeese man it is a damn time for everybody to enjoy themself Mr. De Castro
you need to shut up stop minding things that are of no value, no importance to you, and questio
why is it this only bothers you GET A LIFE........................................U r rediculous man
However, I will admit that I did not hear your radio show. In fact, I have never heard your radio show. I also admit that I did take the headline and the story on BVI News at face value. But based on my own personal experience, it never crossed my mind that the headline "might" be misleading.
If as the article claimed, you never stated that "expats should only be allowed to be spectators", then you should really have words with the editor, as it seems you may have been misquoted. If you were misquoted, perhaps a retraction is in order?
I agree with you that national pride, culture, history, etc. are all very, very important to any nation and should always remain so. However, I believe that as global populations migrate and intermingle more and more, we must open our hearts and minds and foster inclusion and tolerance rather than exclusion and intolerance for different cultures.
The world would be a much nicer place for all if we each made a concerted effort to allow others to be who and what they are, without judgement or prejudice.
I "kind of" get what you are talking about and I don't disagree with you 100%. Certain "parts" of the Festival celebrations SHOULD be reserved exclusively for Virgin Islanders. But that is not to say that expats should be excluded from ALL parts of the festivities. Surely there is a happy compromise to be made? In fact, it might be nice for the Festival & Fairs Committee to consider creating some inclusionary events that might even feature expats residing in the BVI? After all, there are a LOT of us here and many of us love the BVI too! :)