by STAFF WRITER
Abka Fitz-Henley
KINGSTON, Jamaica, Feb 29, CMC – The Press Association of Jamaica (PAJ) Monday condemned the threats made on the life of journalist Abka Fitz-Henley, noting that freedom of the press is paramount to any democratic society.
Fitz-Henley, a senior reporter at Nationwide and co-host of the station’s evening news, has been forced to travel with an armed security guard since the threats have been made aginst his life.
The PAJ said that it is alarmed at the situation and that the the right to freedom of expression, and by extension freedom of the press, is paramount to any democratic society.
It said threats to journalists are a common method by which subversive elements in any society try to undermine that right.
“Jamaica has a proud tradition of press freedom, and incidents like this put that tradition at risk,” the PAJ said in a statement, adding “Abka and Nationwide have our full support at this time.
“We understand that the police have been dealing with this matter. We commend their action, and urge them to make this investigation a priority, as it goes to the very foundation of our ability to say that Jamaica is a democratic society.
“We cannot overstate the harm that can be done by this type of attempt to intimidate. Apart from the personal threat to Abka, which is despicable in itself, this is a threat to Jamaica’s democratic traditions. Journalists carry out their duties on behalf of, and for the benefit of people of Jamaica, and an attack on any journalist is therefore an attack on the people themselves,” the PAJ added.
