By Joan Rampersad
October 05, 2015 – newsday.co.tt

In his first official function as Minister of Communications, Maxie Cuffie, at the Association of Caribbean Media Workers (ACM) Eight Biennial General Assembly that took place at the Trinidad Hilton yesterday, stated too much state resources were spent in the last year on the Caribbean News Media Group (CNMG) and the Government Information Services Limited (GISL).

He said, “The State, through CNMG, GISL and Parliament, owns three television stations, four radio stations and three cable channels and, in the last year alone, spent more than $90 million to keep its media operations going.

“In a contracting economy and, with depressed energy prices, this appears untenable. We need to decide whether this is a good use of government resources, while each day people are crying for better roads, houses and drainage.” He then challenged anyone to assert that, after more than $90 million spent, $50 million of which was spent on a “Government Working for You” campaign, if they feel either better informed, entertained or even better prepared by State media to face the challenges that are confronting us today. “As the newly appointed Minister of Communications, my first priority, in tandem with the mandate of the Government of Trinidad and Tobago, is to restore confidence in existing State media and ensure, that it is devoid of political agenda, propaganda and politicking as we move towards a new model,” said Cuffie.
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