Dear Editor,
I find it absolutely appalling that Niki Phenix, from her so-called independent platform, had the audacity to claim live on ABS during the Cabinet Press Briefing that all journalists in Antigua and Barbuda are in Gaston Browne’s pocket.
I’m not a journalist myself, but it’s shocking that the Media Workers Association hasn’t condemned such a ludicrous assertion.
This kind of statement undermines the trustworthiness of journalists in our nation, suggesting they’re on the payroll of the Prime Minister.
Does anyone realize how damaging this is to our democracy? The silence from media workers on this could imply they’ve accepted the accusation as truth.
Furthermore, who does Niki think she is, showing up at the Cabinet Press conference and treating the government’s chief of staff with such blatant disrespect?
It’s one thing to ramble on from the UK while sipping tea, but to continually disrespect the official government platform here is beyond ridiculous.
She’s crossed a line time and again, and it’s surprising that only one of her colleagues had the courage to call her out as simply nasty and annoying—though even that colleague felt the need to apologize afterward.
Here’s a direct appeal to Lionel Hurst: it’s time to ban Niki from the Cabinet Press conference. She hardly represents any legitimate media outlet; she’s merely a mouthpiece for her own petty grievances.
The public is fed up with her antics and I demand her removal from these briefings. Her presence turns serious discussions into a circus. Niki is a disgrace, not just to herself but to everyone trying to engage with the issues at hand.
I’m starting a campaign to get her off the air once and for all. Let her rant on Facebook and social media if she wants, but enough is enough. We don’t need her poison in our public discourse.
Kara Winston
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This sounds personal
Kara Winston, hats off to you !
ANU needs more bold people like yourself who stands up and execute your right to speak out on these brazen statements on live broadcasts.
The majority just sits back and says noting but yet complain.
Its good to know we still have people like yourself who are brave, bold, and stands for the truth.
I agree fully, get rid of these people who make everything into politics and pin everything on the government despite of any party in power. If you have something against whoever PM, say it to their face, don’t you be a sly plain face coward, that’s an ugly thing.
I never like her from the fist time she want to disrespect mr hurst out of order woman I agree with you lady
Nikki Phoenix is not a journalist. She is a rabble rouser. Which media house does she represent? Observer got rid of her years ago and Sean Bird has done the same at ZDK. She is toxic. She seeks popularity by being outrageous and sensational.
In any case, what Lionel Hurst does weekly is a Report on the Cabinet decisions. Journalists then get the opportunity to ask for details and clarification on the Cabinet Report. Hurst is not a Cabinet Minister. He does not determine and decide on national policies. He is not a member of Parliament. He is there to give clarity to the decisions of cabinet.
All Phoenix does is use the platform for her editorial and personal rants. Every question is prefaced by a 5 minute commentary as she sits in her apartment in London, making no meaningful contribution to Antigua and Barbuda. Is there an ICE in the UK as she is probably illegally there.
Go Nikki!! Ask the difficult questions that they cannot answer, keep making people aware of their incompetence. Don’t they know your an Antiguan Citizen? You have the right to ask. Now don’t listen if she poke you the wrong way but i love the Facts….
Kara winston, aka laborite…. nice to see young Niki is pushing the biased pressure points.. Although i think she needs to be a bit more polised in her questions, she is asking the questions on the minds of people who are not politically motivated. Since when someone calls out any party there is a protest to silence the person? isnt this a democracy? Dont independent minds have a voice to? Let me remind you the majority in the electorate are independent!! The fact you use the word democracy in your letter is astonishing.
She’s an idiot.
She claims “all journalists in Antigua and Barbuda are in Gaston Browne’s pocket.”
Nikki, you’re also a journalist so if you really believe this statement, then you are also in his pocket.
Get ride of ableless tv, they serve no purpose, oh maybe Gaston’s purpose to lie, manipulate and deceit. Oh he can use pointe FM lol. The police found the car for David or was it a tip off? Report the right news ableless
Dear Nikki,
Keep asking the tough questions. We need more people like you who aren’t afraid to stand against the crowd.
If anybody should be banned, it should be Lionel Max Hurst… permanently, without prejudice.
HAHAHAHAHAHAHA. MY OVARIESSSS
She is disgusting but she sometimes ask tough relevant questions.
Niki brave to say that,they will never love you for your bravery,go girl.
Niki is the typical pot stirrer found in every society on earth. Many get their jollies by encouraging such maggots. In her efforts to increase her own infamy, she accuses the impotent body of local “”journalists” of being ” in Gaston’s pocket”. Is that a qualifier for being in your kind of business? In which politician’s are you, Niki? Any who lives in Antigua recognizes immediately that you are a FRAUD, for nothing is further from the truth. In our local environment, ‘ugly’ sells, so our journalists keep themselves afloat by taking cheap shots at the PM who refuses to let his feathers be ruffled. He is a BROWNE, not a BIRD! Indeed, if the Bird was still at the helm, he would know exactly how to neutralize you and your kind.
You are worth zilch to this Browne and to most Antiguans. Stand down! Go romp with your counterparts of yellow journalism and the dunce elements that find you usable.
I fully endorse her exclusion from any courtesies extended to our local “journalists”. Only the ugly find you attractive.
The laborites really singing for their supper. Leave Nikki alone. Let her ask the real questions that the “softies” refuse to answer!!
What Max, doing the Trump thing? Banning people who don’t come to your press conferences to sing kumbyah?
You had a long run with the untruths. Time to start pulling back from that. Getting too old for that. Time to start thinking how your grand children will see you. They will ask you the hard questions. What will you tell them? They forced you to say those lying things?
@James Luke
I trust that this is an alias. The real James Luke is more educated than this.
In any case, what’s personal about the article?
The self proclaimed, Lady Nikki is being disrespectful and accusatory at the press conferences. The mere insinuation for the late, Hon. Asot’s demise being of suspicious means is disrespectfully defamatory. I don’t expect that the opposition members and supporters who despise the Prime Minister would see anything wrong with her line of questioning.
To call ABS TV an ableless station is appalling when it’s ABS that has given her oxygen for all these years.
She represents herself as her platform with no grativas but start fires where there is no smoke.
She should be censored during the press briefings if she’s chosen as a lay journalist to represent the common man.
A reprimand with a disclaimer should be offered journalists at the briefings for fairness.
Haha🤣 Nikki wah yah do them!!! Wank Max na leave too😂
Max Hurst tou meet tour match. Do so nor lub so. I am proud of Nikki. Shebis a true journalist. Her fearless personor have you all going. Bravo Nikki the Lord is your covering. Once you don’t see red you are disrespectful. Clap, clap.
All these politicians need to be banned every single one of them its not her alone every single one I will say again
She should have a freedom of speech she can air out her views smh
Exactly perfectly said commenter it’s very everyone not one sided only her manner should be professional and that’s it
I don’t see the need for the name callings and I think she should be allowed to ask her questions however in a non-combative manner.
The press briefings are not for ABLP supporters but to the entire nation and she represents the interest of a few people I imagine
Antigua news room be warned. Nikki will take you to the cleaners for publishing this letter. I’m going to Epicurean for my popcorn and soda. Yeppppp. It is gonna be a bumpy ride
She is disgusting but she sometimes ask tough relevant questions.
The functional illiteracy rate in this country is extremely high and alarming. That means that while people may be able to read and write, they cannot think or understand. In other words they are dumb.
We just love ugly, no matter what.
Hurst is not hosting a press conference. He is presenting a report of decisions made by Cabinet and is open to answer questions or clarifications on the report. Full stop.
Gaston Browne is on Pointe FM live every Saturday. If she is such a great journalist why doesn’t she call and ask all her questions?
Kara Winston, in Antigua politicians aren’t accustomed to answering hard and searching questions, they are more comfortable with people like you and your ilk, I think most of you should go back to journalism school. I am quite certain when you watch press conferences on TV you see them more like Nikki
I contend the Caribbean media is trash. I have been writing that statement for years. They are like stenographers.
I know very little about Nicki Pheonix. She first came to my attention when a British woman who bills herself as a journalist criticized Ms. Pheonix seemingly for her willingness to question Mr. Hurst.
Turns out the Brit is nothing but a grifter. But that’s for another time.
The local reporting of Mr. Hurst PR briefing is primarily just cutting and pasting.
Mr. Hurst Cabinet Briefing are political briefing not to inform the public of important discussions and decisions of Cabinet, but a briefing to generate favorable political publicity and to enhance the Prime Minister and his Cabinet. Nothing wrong with that. he is a Spin Doctor and he is good at it.
Its the job of the journalist to ask hard questions and uncover for the public what are the facts and substance rather than the spin.
It is the journalist’s responsibility to assess what is offered up and to pose questions based on the scenarios. It is not unusual where the presser and the journalist clash.
When a Nicki Pheonix comes along and asks probing questions in a highly charged political environment where most view information through a political lens many will find her style objectionable.
Her criticism in many cases is as a media critic as in the case of ABS. There are such things as media critics who are journalists.
She is a breath of fresh air form the cut and paste nature of Caribbean news.
How many Antigua journalist has written ONE article assessing what is going on in Barbuda. I have seen numerous articles cut and paste like the ABLP launching it campaign for the Barbuda Council.
How many articles on The Riot Squad at Katel Hill and the landing of a large contingent in plain clothes on the Barbuda Ferry.
Where is the expansive articles which uncovers the misinformation about the Prince’s trust, as well as the group from Antigua saying in the meeting that the need assessment from Irma 8 years ago is good enough and it will be to expensive to do another need assessment.
It not for a Barbudan to call in to the local radio station and what is stated later presented as news.
What are the implications for the public of the new credit rating system being implemented.
Why is the Government questioning its own statistics department and department of finance of 3.5 % growth when its not question the ECCB of 7.5%
Where are the articles of national importance? Where are or who is the journalist that is able to conduct interviews, research report and archives, gather information and write Indepth articles from time to time.
I have not seen anything Ms. Pheonix has written, but i have seen her teasing out the issue with the doner of the $1 million US to rehab Codrington that disappeared in the International Bank
Where are the journalist who recognizes the inconsistences in the whole Barbuda housing, when Barbudans have rebuilt in Codrington. What is the reason for moving them up to farmlands.
I say leave Nicki Pheonix alone.
@ OTTO
Your writing puts you in the functional illiteracy category. Why Nicki Pheonix goes to a press briefing that what it’s called a PRESS BRIEFING.
There is a big big difference of a Press Briefing and a political Opinion Radio Program. Ms. Pheonix ask her questions in the appropriate forum.
Only a semi-illiterate would ask why she does not go on Pointe radio
Nikki:Keep on asking any damn questions.If they do not like them, they could suck them. I would agree that you are not a National. There are thousands of Nationals like me. Who are living around the world.So do not be afraid to ask questions and express yourself.I am sure you are a Voter in Antigua. Express yourself!
Niki is no less a National than our Ambassador in Washington who came to Antigua as a journalist.
Today he is knighted and welcomed as one of the longest running employees of Antigua and Barbuda
Until we get more people like Nikki Antigua and Barbuda will remain mired in the political shit house of Labour. ANTIGUANS and BARBUDANS wake up
I read many of the negative comments with much mirth, hilarity and utter disbelief. However, the investigative Nikki Phoenix is proving to be a real thorn to the ABLP.
With Lionel Hurst it seems very personal.
Here’s why, so that you can make up your own minds without Hurst’s belligerent PROCACITY and animosity towards Ms Phoenix:
https://youtu.be/7J-3Wi8pz94?si=zRUxDaCredPpbd37
And never forget groundbreaking interview with the man behind the $1 Million dollars hurricane Irma donation that has mysteriously gone astray:
https://youtu.be/FCzSQVWLP_Q?si=DdOD7YUttL7Fmfjs
Keep being a thorn in this “secretive” government’s flesh … I applaud your integrity and tenacity Nikki.