CALLERS to The Tribune have warned that Tribune reporters should be careful because certain PLP operatives are not taking too kindly to The Tribune’s publication of allegations made in a Supreme Court document about the behaviour of the Deputy Speaker of the House of Assembly.

They want the reporter to somehow make the allegations disappear, to soft-pedal them in a smoke-screen out of the backdoor. They want the incident to be closed with the “smoking of a peace pipe with the PLP.”

Neither The Tribune, nor its reporter, has any problem with the PLP. But we do have a problem with anyone who suggests that a reporter should hide facts from the Bahamian people.

The Tribune is not here to serve any particular group or party – neither are its reporters, who do not take kindly to bribery or intimidation.

The Tribune’s duty is to the Bahamian people, to the protection of our institutions and the encouragement of the return of some semblance of decency to our body politic.

The Tribune is not perfect— nor are our reporters. However, our reporters are dedicated, decent young men and women, who take pride in their work and make every effort to write balanced reports. They always try to get two sides to every story. Often they are not successful because one side is not willing to talk, not even in their own defence. At the end of these reports every reporter is required to state that he tried, but was rebuffed by one of the parties. This is so that his editors will know that at least an effort was made to get two sides to the story.

Sometimes we make mistakes. However, the mistakes are never deliberate. As soon as they are discovered, they are corrected.

It is unfortunate that the PLP, now the governing party, has always, almost from the beginning of its history, attracted around them a low caliber of hangers on — the bullies, the brainless, fist-threatening loud mouths — who bring the party into disrepute. These are the ones who can be relied on to bring out the demonstrators, to rally the crowds when the party wants to make a political point. We find it most significant that when our reporters moved among these crowds, most do not know why they are there, or what they are demonstrating for, or against. However, what we do discover is that many of them are paid for their “public service.”

We can recount many demonstrations, and many tales of pay offs, but we shall recall one closer to home to illustrate our point.

It was Tuesday, March 18, 2009 when about 40 protesters, with placards and bull horns arrived outside The Tribune to defend the reputation of the late Sir Lynden Pindling. They also wanted Managing Editor John Marquis, who had made reference to Sir Lynden in an article, removed from the island.

It would appear that not one of them had the brains to start a letter writing debate in The Tribune to get their point of view across to the public. No, these were the bully boys, who were willing — at the instigation of their leaders — to use vocal cords and muscles to bring The Tribune into line. The protest continued for little over an hour, during which political activist Paul Moss, described at the time as a PLP hopeful, used his bull horn to keep them moving along Shirley and Deveaux Streets. He said that 40 Bahamians had joined the cause to vindicate the “father of the Nation,” but that thousands more were too afraid to be there. However, he said, they would return later in the day with more protesters. However, rather than returning, the small group moved to the Eastern Parade on East Bay Street where they enjoyed barbecued food, drinks and loud music for the rest of the afternoon.

Of the 40 demonstrators that morning, there were only three — and these were the leaders — who knew why they were demonstrating.

Lincoln Bain, at the time host of Controversy TV, was on the street doing a live TV interview. He said almost everyone he interview in front of The Tribune that day “had no idea why they were there.”

Of course, seeing a demonstrator, who had no idea why he was there, being interviewed by Mr Bain, Ricardo Smith, noted as a loud-mouthed bully, broke up the interview.

“You asking about an article?” he screamed through his bull horn. “You don’t need to ask about one article. Ask about all the articles this nasty man has written. He is a nasty fella. He is a disrespectful fella. And he must be taught some manners. Whenever you are invited to a man’s house, learn how to behave your dirty skin!”

Mr Bain found it “disgraceful” and “stupid” that this mob was shouting threats against The Tribune, but had no idea what they were demonstrating about. He found it offensive that “these people are expecting us to cut out part of our history.”

The police kept a close watch over the crowd, reporting afterwards that they spotted many who were “well known” to them. This is police-speak to describe persons with a criminal record. Many of them were smoking dope, and when reported to the police, they threatened violence.

This is the type person who is recruited and paid. No wonder this country has a crime problem. If they are recruited for this type of dirty job, then what is to stop them doing a couple of dirty jobs for themselves?

Earlier this year an e-mail, either accidentally or by design, came to the desk of one of our reporters, intimating that certain persons were pushing a story for a monied person in this country, but were angry that they could not get The Tribune on board. We hasten to add that this incident involved no politician or political party.

All we want to make clear here is that our reporters respect themselves, respect their job, feel honoured to able to bring the truth to their countrymen, and — unlike a few others in the profession — are not for hire.