Complaint filed by editors to the BVI governor and deputy governor over media ban
Publisher of BVI News Online Merrick Andrews is going to file formal complaint to the British Virgin Islands governor and deputy governor. The subject of the complaint is the ban of one of the publication’s reporters from attending magistrate court proceedings.
Andrews said he had not received information from the magistrate, and he sought the assistance of police officers concerning court matter on November 21. After this case, he tried to contact the Governor and Deputy Governor of the BVI, but without success. Now, having not received any kind of verbal respond, he is preparing formal letter on the matter.
Magistrate Valerie Stephens banned the BVI News Online reporter from her court because of the report concerning burglary at the magistrate’s home; also, being requested to pull the story, the editor refused to do it. The magistrate is convinced that the story should not be published because it “compromised her security”, but Andrews said the report was in relation to a burglary, and not to the magistrate’s security.
By words of a reporter, that is a sad week for journalism and freedom of expression in the BVI, and another sad fact is that the territory has no media association. The publisher/editor said that they are going to continue to fight the injustice from the justice system.