The Caribbean Broadcasting Union, as the unique grouping of public service and independent media entities in the Dutch, English, French and Spanish Caribbean is paying close attention to recent developments affecting the membership of the Board of Directors of One Caribbean Media (OCM) headquartered in Trinidad & Tobago.

It has noted the efforts by the Government of Trinidad and Tobago to gain a foothold on the Board of the OCM through the National Investment Fund. the state entity which holds shares of OCM acquired through the Government’s bailout of CLICO.

CBU’s interest is in part because the Union’s membership includes a number of OCM Group media houses including CCN-TV6 in Trinidad and Tobago and Starcom Network Inc in Barbados.  However, the interest is primarily because of CBU’s commitment to independence of Caribbean media, a cornerstone of democratic society.  It is of concern that despite the shareholders expressing their will during an election supervised by an audit firm the Government appears to be challenging the rejection of its nominated directors.

As a prominent media entity with services in many Caribbean countries and territories OCM is regionally influential.  It is therefore vital that the organisation abides by the highest journalistic principles.  It also needs to maintain the trust of the audiences it serves through its media outlets.  The CBU acknowledges that the apparent insistence by the Government of Trinidad and Tobago that it places two directors on the OCM Board could adversely affect the perception of OCM’s ability to be fair and principled.

It is CBU’s hope that the parties will, through reasoned dialogue achieve an amicable solution that preserves the Caribbean’s hard-won reputation for respect for freedom of the media, and good governance.