BARJAM condemns treatment meted out to media workers

The Barbados Association of Journalists and Media Workers (BARJAM) has condemned the treatment it said was meted out to some of its members on Saturday.

BARJAM said journalists attempting to cover the court appearance of the man charged with the murder of Nation photojournalist Christoff Griffith and contractor Glenroy James, were barred from entering the court yard.

In a statement on Sunday BARJAM said it was “deeply concerned that reporters and photographers who went to the District ‘A’ Magistrates’ Court … to execute their duties … were barred from entering the yard by police”.

BARJAM said it was equally disturbing to learn from the affected media workers, that the instructions came from officials within the RBPF.

BARJAM notes that even though the media practitioners were eventually allowed beyond the barricades and into the courtroom, that only happened after certain calls were made to a police public relations official, by a senior journalist complaining about the situation.

“The association has since reached out to the Police Public Relations Department seeking a follow up with the Commissioner of Police to shed light on the situation and to find common ground,” the statement continued.