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CEO of Verizon Media Group, the parent company of Eyewitness News Gershan Major rushed to defend the media house amidst public trust and credibility concerns after its owner Sebas Bastian was nominated to pursue his political ambitions.

Major said Bastian does not have “any direct operational oversight or involvement in the day-to-day operations of the company,” adding that the organisation’s tenets remain based on “facts, accuracy, and balance.”

Why it matters

Even without direct involvement, his ownership still shapes perception, coverage, and credibility.

Journalistic ethics dictate that journalists are expected to be objective and impartial in reporting the news.

Though Major argues that Bastian is not involved in the media house’s decision-making, as an owner of the media house, the question of Bastian’s influence arises.

The big story

Bastian has been ratified as the Progressive Liberal Party’s pick for Fort Charlotte, after rumours that he was entering frontline politics. In the wake of his entrance into politics, another owner of a competing media Wendall Jones spoke out, warning that a media executive mixing in politics should resign.

Bastian is not the only one blurring the lines between journalism and politics this election cycle. Robert Dupuch, president of The Tribune, and Clint Watson, former journalist turned press secretary and now general manager of the Broadcasting Corporation of the Bahamas, are joining Bastian on the PLP ticket.

State of play

Can journalists at Eye Witness News, The Tribune and ZNS stay impartial when their bosses enter the political arena?  And, can Bastian, Dupuch and Watson, if elected, also be trusted as policy makers?

Experts say key ethical safeguards should be followed if a journalist wants to pursue politics: Senior journalists and media executives should step down from their media roles to avoid any appearance of any conflict of interest. And, publicly declare any perceived conflicts of interest related to their political ambition.

Featured pictures: Eye Witness News

Clint Watson, the host of Beyond the Headlines, vehemently resisted recent comments by Prime Minister Hubert Minnis, when he stated that the country is presently in two pandemics–one for vaccinated individuals and another for non-vaccinated individuals.

Minnis was addressing the climb in COVID19 cases in the country, noting that it was worrying as the Bahamas experiences a 3^rd wave of the virus.

“One thing the Bahamian populace must understand, we are in two pandemics. The vaccinated individuals are now out of the pandemic. The pandemic is finished for the vaccinated.

“The non-vaccinated are still in the pandemic. Therefore, it is essential for us to aggressively pursue vaccines so that we can vaccinate our populace as quickly and efficiently as possible so that they can move into the vaccinated portion, thus the non-pandemic,” Minnis said.

Watson, during the taping of his show, is taken aback by the comments and is heard telling producers, “Did he say the pandemic is over for the vaccinated? No, no, no. I’m sorry. Control room can you play that sound bite again, please? No, no. I heard wrong.”

With a mocking smile, Watson then goes on to say, “How did he come to that conclusion? …I’m confused.”

Why is Watson confused? The facts about the pandemic are indisputable.

Here’s how Minnis came to that conclusion.

1. Director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Dr. Rochelle P. Walensky said the virus is targeting people who are unvaccinated.  She said, “This is becoming a pandemic of the unvaccinated” as deaths and hospitalization are among the unvaccinated people.
2. Fully vaccinated people who may contract the virus are less likely to spread the virus to others as they have less virus in their system compared to unvaccinated people, according to Anthony Fauci, White House chief medical advisor.
3. USA President Joe Biden, acknowledging that cases of COVID-19 have tripled over recent weeks in the US, stated on Friday, “Look, the only pandemic we have is among the unvaccinated.”

Watson, as the host of an opinionated show, is entitled to his own thoughts and feelings. However, he is not entitled to the facts, no matter how much passion he demonstrates.

How is Minnis wrong about the statement he made? Does Watson need to hear PLP ‘experts’ say so before he believes?

Does Watson need to see body counts or hospitalization statistics of the unvaccinated?

Is Watson so politically blinded that anything Minnis says he refuses to believe?

Watson is simply benighted or politically posturing for his audience.

Following the death of Registered Nurse Bernadette Rolle, who is the latest COVID-19 victim to succumb to the infectious disease, Bahamas Nurses Union (BNU) President Amancha Williams pleaded with the public to take the virus seriously and stay at home.

She told Eye Witness News, “We have nurses who are home self-medicating, [experiencing] respiratory distress. Please Bahamas, stay home. This is not the partying time. This is serious. We have lost our own. We are begging you, stay at home and hand sanitize, and do what you ought to do as a Bahamian citizen.”

Rolle, a nurse at the Sandilands Rehabilitation Center, died on Friday after a battle with the virus. She remained at home and reports say she presented herself at the hospital twice, but was turned away due to lack of beds at the facility.

Williams said Rolle had a comorbidity.

“You don’t send anyone home, especially a nurse. A nurse should have had a bed in ICU, like we do for the other rest of hierarchies,” Williams lamented,

Nurses union president warns the government

Williams said nurses have had enough and if the situation does not improve, the union will engage in strike action.

“As of today, if things ain’t right, you could assure every nurse in the Commonwealth of the Bahamas will be sitting under a tree as of today,” she said.

“Prime Minister, we are tired. Minister of health, we’re tired.”

Williams continued, “I am telling the nurses in the Commonwealth of the Bahamas, if there is no PPE and no N95 mask, no boot, no cover for your head, please, do not enter. Sit and wait till the relevant authority come and bring them.”

Former health minister responds to the death of his constituent

Former Health Minister Duane Sands paid tribute to Rolle saying health workers pay a high price as front liners of the coronavirus.

In a Facebook post, he said, “The death of Bernadette Rolle RN…reminds us of the price that healthcare workers pay in the battle against Covid-19 in the Bahamas.

“Like our colleague, Judson Eneas – she has succumbed in this war. I was privileged to know her. She lived in the area I represent. I offer sincere condolences to her children and family.”

Sands added that the true number of infected individuals are not known as confirmed Covid-19 cases are only a percentage of the total.

Sands encouraged the public to stay safe and practice social distancing.

Health minister offers condolences

The new Minister of Health Renward Wells confirmed Rolle’s death and acknowledged her contribution the health sector.

“As we mourn the loss of a brave warrior from the frontline in our fight against the pandemic COVID-19, the nation is grateful for her service.

“Nurse Rolle was dedicated to her family, to her patients, and to the institutions of nursing and SRC.

“On behalf of the Government of The Bahamas and my Ministry, and on my own behalf, extend sincere condolences, particularly to her two children, her patients that she dearly loved, and to her nursing colleagues at SRC who are her extended family,” he said.