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'I've created enemies galore based on my opinion'- Rosan-Jones
"What I've felt and what I observed is that we are a small community, and quite often we have to be careful with what we say, how we say. It creates enemies, people take things personally," Rosan-Jones said on the Wednesday, May 13, 2020, edition of 'Honestly Speaking' with moderator Claude O. Skelton-Cline.
Media discomfort visible in VI
"I'm looking at the media and I'm seeing, cause most of them are not Virgin Islanders, and I'm seeing that discomfort that they are holding," she said, pointing to instances of 'insult' at a May 12, 2020, COVID-19 Government press conference, saying that it is a worrying trend.
"I've seen the discomfort in the media... they seem afraid to ask, afraid to follow up, they appeared insulted. I could see that they were insulted, and so those are factors that I think limit the media in how they do their job."
There was one instance where a reporter was told to put on his face mask while asking a question; however, some Government officials did their presentations either without a mask or not properly worn.
In another instance at the press conference, ZBVI Radio Director, Zan Lewis was rebuked by Deputy Premier and Minister for Health and Social Development, Hon Carvin Malone (AL) after the Minister had decided that the reporter's line of questioning was unacceptable.
'Not becoming of a Minister' - Rosan-Jones
"You are the press and a grown adult, now what kind of question is that?" Hon Malone said in response to a question as to whether any negligence by medical personnel at Dr D. Orlando Smith Hospital could have been responsible for the first COVID-19 death in the Territory.
Lewis said that given that not much information was out on the death of the Filipino national, there were many concerns, speculations and rumours surrounding her death; however, Hon Malone reprimanded the reporter, saying any concerns "would be addressed."
According to Rosan-Jones, "I look at Minister Carvin's disposition... and I thought it wasn't becoming of a Minister in the way that they were handling the media."
"His posture on the podium to say things like, I can answer that for you off-camera, I don't understand what those things mean and to me those are a threat to freedom of speech, freedom of information, transparency because that's what we want in a government," she said.
Personal & family threats
Rosan-Jones said that as a result of her outspokenness, she often receives threats, including calls and messages where individuals would inform her about the whereabouts of her children.
"I am not media, I have my personal Facebook page and I know, I've created enemies galore based on my opinion, and that's just my opinion and how I see say maybe, a piece of legislation that the House of Assembly is working on, if I give my view they are people that get upset, they take it personal not understanding that this is a democracy."
She called for more respect in the media, "The House of Assembly is there to do a job, the media is there to do their job and we have to respect those two entities as is."
"I think if the media is being respectful in asking questions, I don't see why any government minister has to be disrespectful," she said.
Rosan-Jones' comments come on the heels of JTV reporter Ms Cathy O. Richards telling Mr Skelton-Cline on a previous show that she had received death threats in the early days of her career in the Virgin Islands because of her reporting.
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40 Responses to “'I've created enemies galore based on my opinion'- Rosan-Jones”
If you ask me a question I don't like, maybe you get the Politically correct type answer or maybe you get something that touch you how your question touched me.
Absolutely Nobody:
Cindy: People are threatening me.
#attentionseeker
The Devil made himself God's enemy because he, the Devil, wanted God's human creatures to worship him and not God. So likewise all the Devil's followers. They make themselves enemies of those who choose to follow the way of God.
She not that brave
That question have a lot of legal ramification for all concerned and the minister would be very stupid to give an answer. Zan try a thing, but even him did not expect the minister to answer. That is a question to be dealt with in a legal sphere. Of Cindy, if you are going around and throwing words here and there that others can personally relates to in a negative way don't you think they are going to respond. To every action there is an opposite reaction which sometimes are not necessarily equal. So do good, live well with your neighbors and expect the same.
U have enemies because ur a sk****
Whatever became of the reform alyanz?