Government blames social networks over Tivoli

Establishes media centre in response

JamaicaObserver.com

Tuesday, May 25, 2010

The centre is to be open for the next ten days from 9:00 am to 9:00 pm daily issuing regular bulletins in morning, midday and afternoon, as well as press briefings, to update on joint police-military operations.

“We feel it important to make sure that we keep the nation informed by way of these bulletins, which will be prepared by the media centre,” said Minister of Information Daryl Vaz.

The centre will be staffed by personnel from the Jamaica Defence Force (JDF), the Jamaica Constabulary Force (JCF), Jamaica Information Service (JIS) and the Ministries of Information, Tourism, Foreign Affairs and National Security.

Meanwhile, the Minister also announced the establishment of a complaints hotline for residents to register any concerns they might have regarding the current operations in the west Kingston community of Tivoli Gardens. Residents are advised to call 946-1248 to register their concerns.

The hashtag #blamebruce recently became a locally trending topic on Twitter following Prime Minister Bruce Golding's admission over the Manatt Phelps & Phillips affair, relating to the extradition of Christopher 'Dudus' Coke.

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COMMENTS (21)

Alessandro Ferrari
5/25/2010

Are they for real? How stupid can you get? Who are they going to blame next? The weather? The blame needs to rest with them. I personally would rather listen to people on the streets more than the government because they have no credibility! The whole lot of you need to resign! The monster created by Edward Seaga is now out of control. All garrisons need to be dismantled!

jah bless
5/25/2010

It is indeed sad and I say this with all sincerity, that I do not believe anymore, what is issued officially from the Government of Jamaica, solely because of how they have handled issues, that a junior journalism or PR student could have could have squarely dealt with more professionally. I do hope they don't try to turn this issue political but instead issue truthful and objective information - which is afterall what gave rise to the social networks being vehicles for information dissemination - the public couldn't rely on 'official' statements (or they were not there, to begin with) and had to, thanks to the power and reach of the 'net look to other sources.
We've seen this happen in recent years. The grassroots have taken and used new media to get information out there that would otherwise not be in the public domain. Rather than try to counter it with a propoganda ministry 'a la Nazism', politicians should learn to embrace new and social media and use it wisely & effectively.

jah bless
5/25/2010

WOW! The Govt. is proving itself inept even in damage control mode. The lines of communication should have been opened days, if not weeks ago, but what they did instead was hide behind a wall, presumably out of fear of appearing dissentful - an issue has plagued the ruling party.
What I suspect will come out of this new 'Ministry of Communication... See More' @ the Hilton, that they are setting up to 'counter' the reports being posted on the social networks, traditional and other new media, is nothing more than party-line propoganda, instead of facts and objective reporting, as they attempt to counter what is being discussed publicly now.
Note that it is being manned by the teams they deem important - defense, (dis)information, tourism. Where are the represtatives for social & civic society, business & commerce, I could go on? It's all Govt. people so it stands to reason that the 'party-line' will be towed, sad at such a critial juncture.

tajkari palmer
5/25/2010

ohh yes we should trust the government lmao u all are the cause of the problem.

Mala Nicholson
5/25/2010

I would hope that the spread of this "inaccurate and misleading information" via social networks will prompt the government to establish a presence there. I am aware the Office of the Prime Minister has a twitter account. I encourage them to use it if they hope to stem the flow of alleged misinformation.

N Manley Blythe
5/25/2010

Huh? No no no Mr Vaz, it is this same arrogance combined with lack of pro-activity on your part and indeed that of the government, that has led to this mess.
Mis-information forces you to do what should have been done from day one Have you no shame?
But then why am I surprised, you people have to be FORCED to do everything that is right.
Please resign Sir. You too Mr Prime Minister. Mr Samuda, Baugh, Chang, please. Please turn everything over to Mr Holness and Mr Tufton to lead.
@ Wayne L, I answered your question re how to dismantle a garrison in the letters section under "Suggestions to stem crime". Did you see?

Janeen Johnson
5/25/2010

I don't believe this garbage? You can manipulate situations all you want but you cannot manipulate technology. Technology is the reason why all of this is playing out and we are informed. a statement like this clearly shows the government wants us to remain illiterate and dark. They thrive on garrisons because only illiterate and pea brained people will ride on top of buses and van windows for them come election time. Resign and stop insulting the intellegence of the Jamaican people.

Richard Edwards
5/25/2010

Government can blame whomever they want. Thank god for Face book, Twitter and You tube. The GOJ cannot tell the nation the truth to save their lives, they lie, they lie, they lie. Had it not been for the international media like CNN, BBC, AP and social networks like the one you are blaming now, Bruce and Vaz probably would come on national TV in Jamaica and tell the nation that there is a no war in Kingfston, it is just people enjoying themselves and celebrating Labour Day. Who spread more rumours than politicians in Jamaica . What a bunch of losers, every single one of them. Bruce resignation WILL come, Bruce resignation MUST come.
Richard Edwards NYC
betterlifeforjamaicans@yahoo.com
Richard Edwards NYC
betterlifeforjamaicans@yahoo.com

Jay Brown
5/25/2010

Vaz has gone public since it has been announced that Dudus has escaped.
Hmm , coincidence
Big Up FB & Twitter

mark jones
5/25/2010

Retards get with the time..................Jamaica has long moved on form the era of one newspaper and one tv station where you depended soley on information from gvt sources................The information arm of this administration has been GROSSLY incompetent, as this crisis has borne out

ESTEBAN AGOSTO REID
5/25/2010

Hopefully, I am wrong, but one senses that copious amount of misinformation and disinformation will now be packaged by Baghdad Bob. Government blames everyone, but itself for the potential/almost capture of the Jamaican state by criminals and thugs. Wake up government, citizen journalism in the form of social networks divulging and disseminating information and opinion is what is happening.

Stephanie Lloyd
5/25/2010

without these social networking sites ppl wouldn't know ANYTHING apart from the reports on our local news networks, which have been doing an AMAZING job. facebook and twitter are helping to keep us more in touch and the govt should appreciate them for that fact, establishing their news network to complement the information we are fed via these other sources

Mark Francis
5/25/2010

we need to see the bigger picture......while the Social network may not have 100% so called confirmed reports, it has given the nation a voice & a view with regards to what is happening....lol...not even wikipedia carries 100% complete & accurate information.
it has forced the government to do something it has never done before...trying to inform & keep the public updated.......no matter the propaganda, inaccurate and misleading' information they themselves wish to bring across....at least they are not silent.

Blind man
5/25/2010

In this day and age a compitent government would have thought first thing about the psychological and technological part of conflicts. Meaning they shouldve thought about informing the people correctly from start and stop pointing fingers now about misleading information. I don't want a bumb or incompitent people running the country. Golding should be impeached there should be no begging for him to step down ther should be laws that can be used to take him out plain and simple. Remember Nixon and the watergate scandal. It's obvious that he dropped the ball so now pay the price and the consequence is impeachment. So people say step down so him can go enjoy the tax payers money and relax, hell no-no free pass for no one for mashing up the country. Key word for the month- accountability

STEPHANIE W
5/25/2010

Why not have a facebook page too..i don't use twitter.

Bo ranks
5/25/2010

Again the politicians refuse to look in the mirror. Yes, you can blame the media, twitter, Facebook and other social networks, but if the gov't did not screw up in the first place no one would be blaming anyone. And, yes, how come no one is blaming Dudus? Blame him too, he kept his mouth shut all this time, while his exlawyer told how an upstanding citizen he is. If he so up standing why can't he do the right thing and turn himself in , and probably alleviate some of this tension?

Paul Harris
5/25/2010

Oh PUHLEEZE!!! Leave the Social Networking sites alone and go find DUDUS, you stupid, corrupt politicians. What's next, pulling an Iran move and shutting down access to the sites in Jamaica? Social sites should be the least of the Jamaican government's concern. I think right now it has much bigger fish to fry.
I must say tho, that watching the evening newscasts here in the US, the Jamaican military and police looks QUITE IMPRESSIVE and very well equipped. At least taxpayers money have been spent sensibly in that regard. I wish the security forces GOD SPEED and BEST OF LUCK.

Wa Tch
5/25/2010

The power of the social networks have been recognized internationally. They are even more powerful that the US.
The inept GOJ will soon be blaming global warming for its .
problems.
Mirror, mirror on the wall who is the dumbest of them all!

anthony dunn
5/25/2010

BLAMING users of social networks such as Facebook and Twitter for spreading what it says is 'inaccurate and misleading' information, Government has established a media centre at the Hilton Hotel in New Kingston.
this Govt. knows all too well about "INACCURATE AND MISLEADING INFORMATION"
this entire cabinet has no credibility!!. why are they still pretending as if they run the country. when they all ponder to the wishes of a common criminal???

Kim Lyon
5/25/2010

the social networks have stepped in to fill the enormous information vacuum that the government has left. we've barely heard peep from the Minister of Inflammation Daryl Vaz on the issue. If the government was @#$%-ing forthcoming with information (FACTUAL information) from the get-go, none of this would have happened.
#blamebruce

Deron Tavares
5/25/2010

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Government blames social networks over Tivoli