More fake news and Sandals

THE EDITOR: Consider the fact that in a tiny third world country where social media topics become as heady as champagne, the poor, the rich and the in-between have become obsessed with their cell phones and connecting with Facebook. We live in a huge global village and really, to the outside world, TT is just a tiny outpost. The rest of the world would still be able be follow all articles on Sandals. Bad publicity, magnified millions of times, soured the Sandals board members big time. Who could blame them? Plenty more sun, sand and sea in the Caribbean and not only in Tobago.

So, is the media to be blamed? Yes, no and in between. The newspaper journalists of TT are not as blessed as in the First World. Millions of people and millions of stories on a daily basis makes writing far more simple. There are few people you can depend upon as being reliable sources in TT. Fake news was invented with TT in mind. Witnesses embellish what they see then change their minds afterwards. If interviewed the aim is to look good, sound good and impress your friends.

With only three daily newspapers in circulation and each paper having to put their own spin on Sandals articles things allegedly got overworked. This most attractive ongoing news story beside murders and road accidents, allegedly contributed to killing off the goose that laid the golden egg.

Each speculative article fed that collective TT inward hunger for bacchanal and confusion. And let us not forget the politics. With a crucial general election looming, there are some people who seemingly viewed any problems with Sandals as an excuse, to make the Prime Minister look bad. The fake news figure of TT$8 billion for the costing of Sandals was no big thing either. Been there and done that over bigger money.

Carnival is now too close to burst your brains with any further fake news and old talk.

Check us back after the first week in Lent. Carnival is tiring business.

Lynette Joseph, Diego Martin

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