Freedom of speech may be in jeopardy in The Bahamas, as attempts to cancel US Ambassador J Richard Blankenship’s recent appearance on the radio may have been politically motivated.
Though the cancellation order came from ZNS General Manager Edwin Lightbourn, sources are indicating that it originated far higher up the “hierarchy” and is believed to have been politically inspired.
Steve McKinney, host of the show which featured Mr. Blankenship last Tuesday, said that he had received a last minute letter from the ZNS General Manager cancelling the show because there were concerns that the show was live and “they were not sure what the Ambassador would say.”
Shortly after receiving a call from the US Embassy ,requesting a reason for the cancellation, Mr. McKinny called back the Embassy to inform the Ambassador the the “show will go on.”
This occurred after Mr. McKinney himself received a call from an “undisclosed source” inquiring as to the reason for the cancellation and informing him that the show will not be cancelled.
Despite denials stating otherwise, it is widely believed that Minister of Foreign Affairs Fred Mitchell intervened to quash the cancellation order.
