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The following is a joint press statement from former Trinidad Guardian public affairs editor Dr Sheila Rampersad and investigative reporters Denyse Renne and Anika Gumbs-Sandiford:
When we staged a Wednesday July 10 walkout from the Trinidad Guardian newspaper, we were and remain clear on the issue: there was a significant threat to press freedom; that threat wore the garments of political interference and its dimensions included, importantly, the sidelining of the Editor in Chief (EIC), Ms Judy Raymond.
We spoke publicly on the day of the walkout and Dr Sheila Rampersad spoke again on I95.5FM the morning after on Thursday July 11. A comment was solicited by and given to the Trinidad Express newspaper on the same day. We have made no other public comment.
Following Ms Raymond’s statement published in the Guardian on July 15, we have decided to break our dignified silence in the interest of our professional credibility and personal well-being. The confusion that has accumulated around this issue was not our creation and we wish to register our resentment that we have to again unravel the obfuscation and offer clarity to the public served by our vocation.
Critical to understanding the events leading up to the Wednesday walkout is a meeting that occurred on Tuesday July 9 at 2.15 pm. That meeting was called following a day and a half of uncertainty, rumours and instability in the Guardian newsroom. It was called by Managing Director (MD) Gabriel Faria, jointly chaired by the EIC, and included daily editor Irving Ward, Photographic Editor Alva Viarruel, Features Editor Franka Philip, Business Editor Anthony Wilson, News Editor Robert Alonzo, Sports Editor Valentino Singh, head of the sub-editors Cordia Gibbs and Dr Sheila Rampersad.
At that meeting, we were told by the MD and EIC that they had both returned from a meeting at the ANSA McAl head office, that there were many concerns with what was perceived by the Guardian Media Ltd’s board of directors to be our biased news reporting, and that things had come to a head. Two examples were mentioned: the Sunday Guardian lead of July 7 which carried the headline “Millions Leaving T&T” and the Guardian’s lead of July 4 under the headline “Rowley Escapes.”
In connection with the first, we asked, among other things, whether there had been complaints by the subject(s) of the news report. The MD said no. The “Rowley Escapes” headline and stories, however, generated much debate between editors, who defended our representation of the story, and the MD.
Flipping between pages one and three of that day’s paper, the MD said, essentially, that our coverage of the story was biased in favour of Dr Keith Rowley and Mr Colm Imbert and against the Privileges Committee. The MD said the board of directors was unanimous in that view.
The MD said the EIC had to go “offline.”
When asked how we were to proceed in an environment in which the EIC was “offline” for vague, undetermined reasons, and with increasing instability in the newsroom that would only be heightened by the EIC’s physical absence, we were told by the MD to tone the paper down. We were told (that) the EIC going “offline” to work on an editorial policy and the toning down of the paper in the interim comprised the best option available following the MD’s and the EIC’s meeting at head office.
Someone asked what the other options were. There was silence, then the EIC said, “It’s either this or we both go.” “We” referred to the MD and the EIC. Someone’s name was mentioned as a potential replacement for the MD.
One editor asked whether we could meet with the GML board to dialogue; the MD said no, that was out of the question.
Later on Tuesday, editors were told by the EIC that someone was being sought to sit-in on the afternoon editors’ meeting which determined the news content of the next day’s paper. One person was approached by the MD; that individual requested time to consider. A short time later, another person was approached by the MD; that person sat-in on Tuesday afternoon’s editors’ meeting.
Uncertainty grew on Tuesday night during which Dr Rampersad and Ms Raymond exchanged a number of text messages relevant to fluid developments. The idea of a walkout, floating around since Monday, took shape on Tuesday night.
On walkout Wednesday, some editors arrived at the office with the idea of a walkout, one aspect of which was to confer before walking out. The conference occurred. At that conference, two editors said they were unable to walk immediately because of pressing financial commitments. One of those two expressed deep solidarity with us, saying he was walking out in spirit but was sorry he was unable to do so in body.
At no time did either of the two cite “tomorrow” as their reason for not walking out.
Exceptions to the walkout, therefore, were on the grounds of burdensome financial responsibilities and legal counsel.
Dr Rampersad’s mind was made up.
At the conference, the EIC suggested waiting until “tomorrow”, adding an hour or so later that her lawyer had advised her not to do anything drastic until she spoke to him. The EIC later left to see a lawyer on Duke Street.
Notwithstanding this, Ms Raymond, on walkout Wednesday at 2.58 pm, sent a text to Dr Rampersad saying, “I need to get out of here. Will be following you in matter of hours. Talk later. Thx for everything xx.”
After the walkout, at 5.56 pm Wednesday July 10, the EIC sent a text to Dr Rampersad following Dr Rampersad’s immediate post-walkout interview on I95.5FM: “Heard interview. Great.”
At 6.25 pm on the same day, the EIC texted Dr Rampersad: “Now drafting resignation letter to show to lawyer.”
Following Dr Rampersad’s interview on I95.5FM on the morning after the walkout on Thursday July 11, the EIC sent a text to Dr Rampersad at 6.26 pm: “you talk like a boss this morning.”
Investigative reporters Ms Anika Gumbs-Sandiford and Ms Denyse Renne affirm that, contrary to the EIC’s statement in today’s Guardian, they were at no time asked, told or advised by the EIC to defer their resignations for 24 hours.
Ms Gumbs-Sandiford confirms that the EIC was in possession of her resignation letter since 1.44 am on Wednesday July 10. Her resignation letter was e-mailed to the EIC with a note reading: “Just informing you that this will be forwarded to General Manager Mr Douglas Wilson at 9am. Talk to you soon.”
There was no response advising Ms Gumbs-Sandiford to defer her resignation. In fact, Ms Ramond responded at 7.30 am via e-mail: “Thanks for letting me know, Anika. I am so sorry it has to come to this. Thanks for all your great work. All the best.”
At 8.20 am, having already agreed on the walkout the night before, the EIC sent a text to Dr Rampersad: “Cd you call Anika & ask her not to send letter yet? GF on way to talk to Norman now, still hoping to save the day. If not, we’ll go together after that.”
Dr Rampersad responded: “It’s over.” Ms Raymond acknowledged that with a sad-face emoticon.
It is not an easy decision to share these items of correspondence but we feel certain we have no choice in the defense of our credibility and the truth. These messages and other correspondence quoted here, along with many more, remain in our possession as corroboration.
Between 8.20 am and sometime after 3 pm on walkout Wednesday, Ms Raymond had a surfeit of opportunities to dissuade Ms Gumbs-Sandiford and Ms Renne from walking out. Ms Raymond used none of these opportunities.
(Courtesy Trinidad Guardian)
Ms Renne confirms that between 10 am and 11 am on walkout Wednesday, she met with Ms Raymond and told her: I have your back; I will be walking out with you. Ms Raymond’s response was, “Ok then, let me go and pack.”
Around 3pm, Ms Gumbs-Sandiford met with the EIC and informed her that she had submitted her resignation letter. She asked of the EIC whether the EIC had submitted hers. The EIC replied, “I am just waiting to speak to my attorney. I will submit it after.”
Ms Gumbs-Sandiford and Ms Renne confirm that they resigned in support of Ms Raymond knowing that if Ms Raymond went “offline,” very soon they would have also been sent “offline” given the number of protests that followed the investigative stories they wrote.
Our silence between Thursday morning and today is not to be interpreted as stupidity, cowardice, or belief in the convoluted spin generated by GML. We are clear that the issue at the start of last week was interference in the editorial processes and products and the suspension and/or potential dismissal of Ms Raymond. After our act of courage on Wednesday, the question became voluntary resignation by the EIC. Our walkout enabled that shift.
That there was dialogue between the EIC and management from Thursday July 11 was not inevitable; our walkout enabled that change. Contrary to reports from the Media Association of T&T, none of the three journalists who walked out is back on the job. None of us was contacted before or after the MATT news release was issued.
We remain unshakeable in our conviction that we took an honourable and principled position; we have no regrets.
The public will adjudicate on whether the confusion of the past few days can be accurately termed “misinformation,” “massive miscommunication” or, quite simply, lies.
Respectfully,
Dr Sheila Rampersad
Ms Anika Gumbs-Sandiford
Ms Denyse Renne
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With Hamid Ghany as the new bossman in the newsroom, does this mean that Judy Raymond is now effectively “offline”?
Sad that the ones who showed integrity are the ones without a job now. I hope they will find even greater success outside the confines of the so-called guardian of democracy.
Let the saga continue until all the LIES are told. I need to know.
Judy after reading this yuh ain looking good at all…do the honourable thing resign and salvage what minuscule amount of credibility you have left…How can you garner any respect after this obvious betrayal of people who ironically were standing up for you?? SMH!
It goes without saying that sensible people will think twice about buying the Guardian now. No surprise then that they were giving it away earlier today.
Secondly, Ms Raymond should tender her resignation as EIC for the exact same reason that she resigned from the MATT Executive.
Thirdly, Ms Raymond would be running the risk of being nicknamed “Calabash” if she were to stay on in the position and try to look reporters in the eye. That would require an incredible amount of belly.
I thought I was done with this story today. As it turns out, the saga continues.