Hosts of the Talking Points radio show have described the coverage of the Bank of Asia matter by some local media entities as “callous” and “sensational,” arguing that it is contributing to damage to the BVI’s reputation as a respected financial services jurisdiction.
The Bank of Asia issue has been receiving wide coverage from media houses and talk shows across the territory, as the public awaits answers about some five million dollars the government allegedly invested in the institution before it was announced that the bank would be shutting down.
However, some elected officials, as well as figures in the church and civil society, have cautioned sections of the media, accusing them of presenting commentary and reports that contain allegations, sensationalism, and unconfirmed information — some of which, they argue, border on slander and defamation.
Talking Points host Violet Gaul said she has noticed that much of the reporting is “laced with supposition and innuendos” that continue to spread globally.
“I would suggest that everyone step back and stop putting this territory in a bad light. It has already happened, but it is getting progressively worse,” Gaul said passionately. “If you call yourself a news medium and you live in this BVI, stop it, because we cannot allow for this territory to be labelled the way it is because of the news you are putting out.”
Co-hosts Damion Grange and Elvin Smith echoed Gaul’s concerns, urging media professionals to wait for the outcome of Premier Dr. Natalio Wheatley’s internal audit before jumping to conclusions.
They also reminded the media community of the extensive work the BVI has done over the years to build and protect its financial services industry. They argued that negative and unsubstantiated reporting from local outlets reinforces the agenda of external forces seeking to damage the BVI’s image.
“There is an external force that is actively trying to undermine our [financial services] sector, and we’re not helping,” Grange explained.
Meanwhile, media owners Cindy Rosan and Floyd ‘Heritage’ Burnett, along with Opposition Leader Myron Walwyn, are among the prominent voices calling for a full-fledged investigation into the Bank of Asia matter and for accountability if wrongdoing is found.
While the government has appealed for calm, it has also been accused by some members of the public of being vague and evasive in its handling of the situation — particularly regarding the operations of the bank, which was established to facilitate transactions in the financial services sector.
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