SOURCE: STATENMEDIA: UPP WITHDRAWS REMAINING CANDIDATES FROM ‘KNOW YOUR CANDIDATES’ PROGRAMME
The main opposition United Progressive Party has taken a decision to withdraw its remaining candidates from ABS TV’s ‘Know Your Candidates’ programme.
The party claims the decision was taken “following complaints from our candidates and viewers about the bias and combativeness displayed by the programme’s host and the negative slant of the news reports following their appearance.”
The party communicated its decision to the station Sunday night, ahead of the scheduled appearance of two more of its candidates, Johnathan Joseph and Malaka Parker, on Monday morning.
The party had agreed last week to the participation of its candidates on the programme.
Two of those candidates, Ashworth Azille and Kelvin Simon, were interviewed on Friday.
ABS TV rejects allegations of bias and tendentious reporting surrounding the programme.
Incumbent candidates are required to give account for their performance, while new candidates are required to provide a baseline for future reference.
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If only the UPP listen thry will not embarrass themselves.
Mr knight has reprated cautioned them about appearing on ABS.
The just do not listen.
Is it a case of who say and not what was said?
ABS is not neutral territory.
It is the office of the PRO of the ALP.
To go in there and expect neutrality is like expecting a cow to give black milk.
That will never happen.
This journalist is one of the best journalist Jamaica has ever seen one of the best out of Jamaica, but I can’t believe he came here and get so caught up with Gaston dramatic politics he cannot even give a fear interview.
Dats all upp do create division while it early they need to pull out from the election as well .it seems all u want to tell d host wat type of questions to ask all u smfh.Abs staff better no anytime upp come in power they out of a job especially all d head of departments an supervisors
The sad thing is that if UPP were to win these jokers at ABS would still remain in their positions.
This is an abomination to our democratic process. I’ve highlighted in the past that media outlets in other countries have strict guidelines in by-elections and General Elections, whereas all political parties are given EQUAL air time.
The ABLP propaganda channel ABS did a similar underhand job by ignoring the UPP at the last General Election.
Isn’t it funny that this country follows/copies many laws from other democracies, but when it comes to political balance and fair play, everything is thrown out the window.
This ongoing ABS bias and media brouhaha must be tackled head-on, or this country will continue its slippery slope towards authoritarianism.
No wonder ABS is in dire straights between management and staff. Hopefully, they’re disbanded as soon as possible…
… and if Burford is a journalist, I’m a unicorn 🦄
What world is upp in? Don’t they learn? Smh
Oh please,… is fraid them fraid to be exposed for the dunceness them chat on party aligned shows that don’t take callers. WTH a murderer like Sherfield can have to tell this country on ABS?? If UPP candidates can’t even represent their party properly on ABS, how they go be able to represent the country at Caricom or internationally??
Plus Anybody cuss UPP candidates, Chairman and their leader Pringle more than Mr. Knight pon Observer??? Yet dem pon Knight show like weak DOOGGGSSS the last few weeks. Even Pringle made appearances after Knoght spend 2 years trashing him. Knight has literally called UPP Chairman Giselle the most degrading of names live on his show, and all the candidates and Pringle never once challenged Knight in Giselle’s defense. Not a fan of Wehner, but I respect him a bit more for not bowing down like a coward to Knight by refusing to go on his show.
Like Pringle only want he and his candidates to go on them softy Observer shows where the blue-koolaid hosts ask them: what is their favorite colour? How many days are there in a week?, and what did you eat for lunch yesterday?? GTFOH UPP. Dance ah yard b4 you dance abroad. If you can handle a local ABS interview, how you can mange a regional news agency interview? UPP not ready yet
Pringle is a nightmare for UPP that NEEDS to end. FMD. No politician leading up to an election refuses free, primetime national media. I’m sure that is in some kind of Politics 101 course somewhere, but dunce Pringle wouldn’t know that.
UPP fraid the heat. Gotta have tough skin to be in government. Is this how they are going to run from the international media when Pringle travels to global summits?? 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣
UPP blue koolaids drinkers going rush to cuss ABS, but it’s all lies. Mr. Buford has been doing balanced interviews as any real journalist should.
I’m not a UPP supporter, but listening to Shugy explain himself on ABS showed me he is developing and has some capacity, as he used to alway shy away for speaking in parliament. So good job ABS. Pringle is afraid of his 1 on 1, so he trying to plug now before they get to him. That’s why everybody says he is a weak weak leader
I am actually very surprised that the opposition had consented to these interviews given the history of ABS. It is a widely recognized democratic standard that such political exchanges be managed by neutral entities in order to prevent bias and undue government influence. No state run format is ever advisable if one is seeking neutrality, fairness and impartiality. ABS is the mouthpiece of the government and at a time like this one cannot expect anything different from them.
Beware of foreign consultants who come here under the false pretense of offering technical assistance…this I have spoken about on more than one occasion.
My good caricom brother was given a one year contract with a clear mandate of improving the quality of broadcasting at ABS…that one year contract was many many years ago.
The consultant at customs was given a three year contract to train a successor and stayed for twelve years without fulfilling his mandate. Departed after his alleged involvement in the biggest scandal to hit the Customs department… Vehicle Gate
A leader produce good leaders.., if a consultant has to remain on the job for an infinite period of time, it means that he has fail and is a failure.
Why is it the people in UPP are so naive? Do you really expect fairness on ABS. It is only called the Nation Station because it is in Antigua. The Government brings in a mercenary to take down anyone who opposes the Administration it has always been what they do. For years now I tune on the TV only when it’s time for the weather because of my work, do not listen to the Radio station. Only the people by doing what is right on the 30th can make this injustice a thing of the past
Something is sabbotaging the UPP, a great opportunity to show case their candidates and they turn it down because they are afraid of Burford! If you can’t face a journalist how will you face the world? First you had a mock parliament at Antigua Workers Union because many of you were too afraid to debate in parliament where you could be challenged, now this…never has a political party sunk lower..the only good thing, when you are so rock bottom the only place for you to go is back up..hopefully, one day..soo sad!