Pres. Ali dodges media

What this source establishes

Since returning to the country after the disaster, President Ali "has not faced the local media", relying on video statements while Prime Minister Mark Phillips has fronted the press briefings. No other 31 July item makes this cumulative point. "It should be noted that no invitation was extended to the local media to cover the ceremony" — the 30 July swearing-in at State House was closed to the press; proceedings were streamed on President Ali's Facebook page and the link later shared with media by Director of Publ

Key claims

• [SINGLE SOURCE] Since returning to the country after the disaster, President Ali "has not faced the local media", relying on video statements while Prime Minister Mark Phillips has fronted the press briefings. No other 31 July item makes this cumulative point.
• "It should be noted that no invitation was extended to the local media to cover the ceremony" — the 30 July swearing-in at State House was closed to the press; proceedings were streamed on President Ali's Facebook page and the link later shared with media by Director of Public Information Edward Layne.
• Chairman Justice Godfrey Phillip Smith of Belize was sworn in virtually "as he is currently out of the jurisdiction"; the other four commissioners were sworn in person before Chief Magistrate Judy Latchman.
• The COI is mandated to inspect "the condition and maintenance history of the vessel, including its seaworthiness" — which the article juxtaposes against the fact that "government mulls leaving the MV Barima on the seabed".
• Ali is quoted: "Our nation deserves a full, fair and impartial account of what occurred, why it occurred and what must be done to ensure that such a tragedy is never repeated."
• Death toll given as 73 confirmed dead and at least 30 still missing at sea.

This page is a research summary prepared for comment and review. It is not the article. Copyright in the original remains with Kaieteur News; the full text is held only in the private research corpus from which this archive was compiled. Follow the link above to read it at the source.