A CVM Television videographer and his family are reportedly being harassed following the recent publication of controversial comments made by Opposition Leader Portia Simpson Miller when she addressed People’s National Party (PNP) supporters in St Ann.

The Press Association of Jamaica (PAJ), in a press release, expressed alarm at the threats being made to the cameraman and the harassment of him and his family as a direct result of his performing his duties.

The cameraman has been receiving threatening and abusive phone calls, the PAJ said in the release.

“It is ironic that this is happening even as we celebrate National Journalism Week,” Press Association of Jamaica President Dionne Jackson Miller said.

“Our colleague was doing his job. He brought to national attention comments by one of our elected representatives, the Opposition leader no less, that sparked a national dialogue, and attracted significant criticism. This is exactly the role that media workers are supposed to play in informing the public, and we are very disturbed that his life and safety may now be at risk as a result,” she added.

The threats have been reported to the police.

“We understand that the police have been very helpful,” said Jackson Miller. “We thank them for their efforts so far and strongly urge them to speedily complete their investigations into this matter, which is of great concern to not just the media community, but to the wider society.

“Press freedom is one of the foundation stones of any democratic society, and we reject and condemn these actions by thugs trying to intimidate our colleague. We stand with him and our colleagues at

CVM, and we encourage and support him as he and his family go through this difficult time,” she said.

Simpson Miller, in an address directed at rebel supporters in Claremont, St Ann South East last week, said: “I represent one of the strongest constituencies (St Andrew South Western) in Jamaica; don’t play with me, I don’t play games. I work hard for this movement from 1974 ’til now, nuh boy, nuh gyal can’t talk to me… I will come back here for another meeting and I know who I will bring.”

Simpson Miller’s tirade against the supporters who are opposed to parliamentarian for South Eastern St Ann, Lisa Hanna, and candidates nominated by the party for next Monday’s local government elections, has been widely carried by both social and mainstream media, following the

CVM report.

Yesterday, Political Ombudsman Donna Parchment Brown also condemned the incident.