Channel 6 apologises to police for hijacking report
Stabroek News
January 23, 2003
CN Sharma has apologised to the police for a Channel 6 ‘News Today’ report last Friday which stated that two police vehicles had been hijacked along with their drivers on Company Road, Buxton and their vehicles’ “skeletal” remains found three hours later.
The Police had sent a letter to Mr. Sharma as Managing Director calling for an immediate apology. According to the Police Public Relations and Press Officer ASP David Ramnarine, no such event ever took place.
Managing Director CN Sharma responded in a letter that if, as the Police states, no such incidents occurred, then the television station extends sincere apologies to the Guyana Police Force
He said his newscast “did not intend in any way or at any time mean to divulge information on activities inherent to the Police Force for public consumption as the Police stated, nor has this station at any time intend(ed) to undermine or question the integrity of the Police Force.”
But he added that apart from the high-ranking official who provided ‘News Today’ with the information, three other officials from a security force had confirmed the report.
The police letter had stated that, “...the Guyana Police Force is not at the whims and fancies of anyone or any agency who believes that they have the prerogative to divulge information on activities inherent to the Force, for public consumption, without first making diligent endeavours to ascertain at least the minimum truth of such matters.”
Ramnarine also advised that the television station had a role to publish “the truth, the cold hard facts.” He called the promotion of acts of untruth and speculation “grossly reprehensible and downright irresponsible”.
