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And we also allowed the Minister to get out all that animus she has towards Channel 7 for our coverage of the 23 year old woman from Toledo who claims she was sexually assaulted inside a doctor's office at a private clinic. The radiologist has been criminally charged, and that's after the victim made a police report requesting court action. But she also made a plea to authorities which - for all she knew - fell on deaf ears since no one responded to her officially - that is, except the Minister of Health who did make a call to sympathize and give his undertaking to have his Ministry respond.
And while the travesty is what she claims happened - the story being pushed by the government continues to be about Channel 7. We let the Minister get it off her chest today:
Dolores Balderamos Garcia, Minister Of Human Resources
"You know there is a difference between accurate and responsible reporting and turning everything sensational in a sort of a tabloid way and I will try to be kind to Mr Vasquez but we honestly believe and we have proof of this that, that kind of sensational reporting can do more damage than good."
"There are limits, there are limits to freedom of expression and there are limits to how you report things. I can tell you, please, I may be stepping over a little but I can tell you that the damage that has been done and we are well aware of this and the special envoy herself will tell you the damage that has been done because of that particular report is grave because what it does it further victimizes and revictimizes the person who suffered the injustice. What I also wan to say is that it is not correct to be twisting things, it was said at the news item that the inaction of the authorities caused the young lady to do the thing that she least wanted to do and that was to make a police report. Now, what kind of reporting and twisting of facts of that. The authorities, did not, let me put it this way there was no inaction on the part of the authorities not everything I do to help women and I have advocated for women for 40 years, not everything I do do I have to go and talk it out there. The, I acted immediately upon getting that report even though I never received a hard copy of that particular letter, immediately after I got that report I acted, that is speaking for myself now. As far as the Ministry of Health is concerned I believe that they put the matter to the public service commission and also to the medical council, but this young lady I can report to you faithfully is suffering a lot because of the way that story was presented, the detail that it went into and the twisting, the journalistic twisting for sensationalism and tabloid journalism that is unacceptable in Belize today."
Reporter:
"if you came to find out that indeed, as I have said and as I know to be true that the young lady wanted the detail out there what then would be your opinion?"
Dolores Balderamos Garcia, Minister Of Human Resources
"If she wanted the detail out there why is she suffering now and doesn't even want to come out of her house, that is the only question I can ask. So there is something maybe that is not jiving here in the way that it should but please let me repeat, I request, and I am going to be respectful here please check yourself and Mr Vasquez check yourself."
We note that the Minister in claiming to wish to protect the victim - but in her zeal to blame Channel 7 has divulged details of a private conversation the victim had with the Special Envoy.
7News stands by our reporting and maintains that we were sent the full details of the woman's complaint with her consent so that we could act as a catalyst to provoke authorities to act. In the end it was the DPP's office that did act, encouraging her to make a statement requesting court action.
