By Denyse Renne

Trinidad Express

PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad – Christmas is not the only time that Government has tried to be generous to the media.

On the heels of the controversial $1,000 Massy Stores vouchers offered to selected journalists, comes word that the Ministry of Communication offered cheques ranging between $13,000 to $15,000 to reporters and cameramen who accompanied Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar on a trip to China during the period February 23-28 this year.

The cheques, the Sunday Express understands, were offered as a per diem during the media representatives’ coverage of the Prime Minister’s official visit.

Initially, it was announced by Government that media houses would foot the bill for accommodation and other expenses in China, while the State would facilitate airfare and assist with obtaining visas.

Sources told the Sunday Express that the allocated airfare (economy class) per journalist to and from China was $62,000.

The media personnel who accompanied the prime minister were Juhel Browne for Caribbean Communications Network (Express and TV6), Khamal Georges-Guardian Media Ltd (Guardian and CNC3), Jesse Ramdeo—Win TV, Karen Cozier-Phillip from Caribbean New Media Group (CNMG), Mukesh Harripaul-IETV and Sasha Harrinanan—Newsday.

Investigations by the Sunday Express have uncovered that calls were made to the six media representatives days before the trip, advising them to collect the cheques. The cheques were to be changed at the Treasury and a stub taken back to the ministry.

The funds were to be converted to United States currency.

In one instance the management of a media house was unaware that its staff member had accepted the money.

It was only when the Sunday Express contacted the media house last week and spoke with its Head of News that the company found out the offer was even made.

Sources say following the revelation, the staff member was called into a meeting where he admitted to being called and accepting the money.

In another case, sources say, media management knew about the money and did not give their reporter a per diem or gave them a smaller amount.

The Sunday Express confirmed that two journalists—Browne and Georges—refused the per diem, while another accepted.

Contacted on the matter Communications Minister Vasant Bharath denied knowledge of any money offered to the journalists.

“I have absolutely no knowledge of what you just said. That is absolutely news to me. I don’t believe that is the case,” he said.

Told that journalists received calls days before the trip and were told to collect a cheque, Bharath said: “I would be very surprised about that, if that were the case.

As far as I am aware no per diem was given or offered to journalists on that trip or any other.”

Tourism Minister Gerald Hadeed who at the time was Communications Minister, was also contacted by the Sunday Express on Wednesday morning.

He said: “I won’t be able to comment on that. That’s a matter for Government and I can’t comment on it. I can’t comment on anything to do with journalist, journalism or anything like that. I’m no longer the minister there.”

To date, Government is yet to make public it paid the per diems of four media practitioners or who authorised the $1,000 Massy Food Stores vouchers for some journalists.

The Sunday Express on Wednesday contacted all media personnel who accompanied Persad-Bissessar on the trip to China. Efforts to contact management at all media houses were also made but in some cases those efforts were futile.

At least two of the media practitioners refused to comment on the issue.

This is what journalists had to say:

Juhel Browne: “I remember speaking to an official from the Communications Ministry, who informed me that there was a per diem the ministry was offering to the journalists going as part of the press group to China.

I told the person, I could not accept such per diem as my company was already giving me a per diem and keeping with the company’s policy, I declined the offer.

It was a matter discussed with my Head of News Dominic Kalipersad and he instructed me that this was not in keeping with the structured agreement.”

Khamal Georges: “We did receive communication about a per diem for the trip and after consultation, we contacted the permanent secretary and we respectfully declined the offer of the per diem as the record would show.”

Karen Cozier-Phillip: “There was a per diem given from the Ministry of Communications. From my knowledge it’s a normal thing.

“I was told about it because my company did not pay a per diem, because they found out that the Government was paying a per diem, so I was told to go and collect the Government per diem and they would pay whatever difference I would need.”

Sasha Harrinanan: “What is the angle to this story? What is the point of this story? I have no comment until I speak with my editors.” Efforts to contact her again were unsuccessful.

Jones P Maderia, Editor-in-Chief, Newsday:

“I was not here at the time. I came in while they were away. As far as I know it was above board, everything was mentioned in relation to the trip and conditions. That’s as far as I know. And I don’t think I should go beyond that because I know exactly where you are coming from.”

I was not involved in any way, I was not here and as far as I know all (that) was connected with the trip was publicly announced and the Newsday reporter complied.”

If you have some indication of wrongdoing or so, I would like to hear about it. But you’re suggesting something in your question and I’m not going down that road.

Sheldon Yearwood, Head of News at WinTV: “I don’t think cash was given in hand. I don’t know anything about that.”

The Sunday Express also contacted Jesse Ramdeo at Win TV seeking a comment. Before the Sunday Express could pose the question, Ramdeo said: “I know what you are calling me about. I have to speak with my bosses and I’m not giving any information until I speak with my editors.

President of the Media Association of T&T (MATT) Curtis Williams when contacted said: “Obviously it is a bad precedent either way for journalists to accept a per diem on an overseas trips from the Government.

He said a per diem should be paid by the companies who employ media practitioners.

“Newspaper, television and radio stations, they should be responsible for paying the per diem and if in fact, they, the companies said they were prepared to take the per diem from the Government, rather than pay from their own pockets then that is a disgrace on the very companies for whom these journalists are working.

He continued: “Secondly, if it is the journalists accepted the per diem without notifying their company then I expect their companies to take the requisite action in relation to this matter and those journalists.”

Saying it was “bad precedence for a Government or Government agencies to seek to pay per diem to journalists who are covering legitimate assignments outside of the country”, Williams added: “What happens, for example, if there’s a story that is adverse to Government, does the journalist feel pressure not to carry the story because their day-to-day expenses are being paid for by the State?