Stop spreading false information on public platforms — former Speaker
Former Speaker of the House of Assembly, Ingrid Moses-Scatliffe is urging members of the public to refrain from spreading false information; especially on public platforms that are frequented by most members of the community.
In an interview with 284 Media recently, Moses-Scatliffe said “misinformation” and “disinformation” are misleading residents, especially at this critical time in the territory’s history when a well-informed public is needed.
“I think it’s important now more than ever that as a people we use the opportunity to put politics aside and start informing and educating the public correctly,” Moses-Scatliffe stated. “There is a lot of disinformation (false information meant to mislead) and that is forming people’s views. We have a duty — especially when using public platforms — to inform, educate and advise.”
The BVI is experiencing much turbulence in local politics and is just months away from what could be deemed the most important general election in its history.
But Moses-Scatliffe said persons need to put politics aside and stop using platforms to “cause divisiveness among the people [with] miseducation and miscommunication.”
“We are way past that point. We are at one of the most critical periods in the territory as a people and it’s incumbent upon all of us to play our part to inform and educate so persons can make more informed decisions,” she said.
In the BVI, it is a common practice for rumours and unconfirmed reports to make rounds on social media platforms such as Facebook and WhatsApp.
While this continues to happen, many BVI residents and public figures continue to shy away from openly voicing their opinions on public platforms. Instead, they take advantage of the comments sections on online news sites and social media which allow them to anonymously voice their opinions.
Some members of the community have called for stronger censorship of media platforms while others continue to champion the public’s right to freedom of speech.
In the meantime, Moses-Scatliffe isn’t the first public figure to call for unity among residents. In recent times, elected leaders and other public figures have called on the community to refrain from spreading false information and focus instead on discussing matters of national importance that will help to advance the BVI.
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I wonder if she was referring to the wigged one?
At it’s finest! Who will educate BVIslanders? I pray bvislanders will dig deeper themselves! A brilliant people!
She got her 5 mins we not voting for her so go sit down
She was one of the worse speakers in bvi history to dam b**s
BVIslanders a brilliant people!! Lmfao. Can’t feed themselves, educate themselves, can’t provide medical care, can’t fix a road, can’t build anything unless corruption is involved, etc, etc. Take all day to create a full list. However just to mention a few things the BVIslander is good at, crime, rape, incest, murderer, corruption, drug dealing, and this list goes on. Such a special people. So much offered to humanity. I bet BVINews doesn’t publish this comment!!
One, that yellow site wig man could literally be put in jail for the crime of ‘bringing the BVI into disrepute’. That law was put in place after the Panama Papers leak to stop BVI financial service employees from helping outside journalists expose the crimes of our financial service customers.
Imo, the law 100% applies to that wig man because he has deliberately spread hatred through lies and half-truths. They are lies to make BVI voters hate our Caribbean brethren because they are not from here, and hate all white people. Tourists, potential tourists, investors and outsiders of all kinds see that site and read the comments and think the BVI is a place full of nasty, evil people who hate outsiders. We didn’t used to enjoy hate so much.
Two, in the last 30 years we went from being human first to being black second, third or fourth, somewhere after being Christian and being family members, etc.. Now minds are poison so bad this generation think they are black first and being human should not apply to them. Social media did much of this but the “legitimate” media sowed its seeds.
I am one of those folks who believe in freedom of speech and the press. However, I also believe that while people should be free to say what they wish either in print or in words, they should not be free of the consequences of that free expression should it become libelous or slanderous.
In other words, write what you wish and say what your want at your own risk. You cannot shout fire in a theatre an escape the consequence of doing so.
What I personally find more problematic beyond the typical gossip, is people using their anonymous statuses to attack others, say awful things about them, tear them down in every way, disparage them and say things that are designed to hurt them in everyway. Cowardly saying things they would certainly not say to a person to their faces.
I think that is wrong. These forums should not be used to attack people, and as much as I believe in speech and press freedoms, I believe so much of this hate and negativity needs to be reigned in.
IMO. Everyone posting on these websites should be registered users.
In that way, people will be more cautious with their postings, and in the event of libelous statements those persons can be more readily identified.
Being familiar with how these websites work, every post can be traced to the writer down to the the country and the device they use, however, being registered users with a public name will address the abuse that I see as people will be more careful knowing that they are posting with their names attached.
Sometimes we need to listen to the message and pay less attention to the messenger. She is 100% correct.
Our former disgraced premier stood in the house of assembly and on several occasions made claim that are unsubstantiated. Some of us took those claims as gospel while the reputation of others were tarnished.
Not getting my vote. Sorry .
i think she is right about unty but…. will this local listen? unmm…. i dont think so these are people irrational and foolish just taking and not giving not sharing not supporting GOD will never be for none!!
same darm thing I saying go sit your rass down. we dont want hear u
For the sake of Our Future, can’t We All try to get along? Poor British Virgin Islanders, look how We destroying our selves.
Jealousy is gonna kill you……..She was a better speaker than you.
Yes, in a sense you’re seeing a people who ha’ve been overcome with evil, as it exists globally. The people of the world have the same intelligence, but not the same environment, leadership etc. You can help to change it all and bring back brilliance. Perhaps start with thoughts. They carry a heavy load. Thinking to build (strength) otherwise, will make you very powerful and more beautiful. I feel your power. Thank you. Love Alone
You were betting wrong, because BVI news love comments such as yours. Mine will not make it.
You need to check the people on the list of things you indicate BV Islanders do. You will see those who do are mixed breeds. A pitbull and a rotweiler create a MUT.
Mrs. Moses-Scatliffe clearly and correctly advised on matters in this interview.
Refer to the law and that’s just what she did rather than providing an opinion or biased interpretation of a law that is clear.
It’s like Facebook.
A poster who isn’t popular or an influencer could post something about God for instance and get 2 likes.
A popular person could post the exact thing though everything on their page is worldly and goes against the same message they posted and they’ll get 100 plus likes…people more focused on the messenger not the message because the same message they like they don’t follow.
You do realize these same people could create bogus accounts.
Why no-one tracked down that slanderous M*** B**** person yet.
This is a cry for help. Let it out, don’t keep it inside. You’re welcome.
Registered accounts bogus or otherwise are still identifiable. No one is truly anonymous on the net…no one.
Your can always be identified bogus accounts or not. I would defer saying how, but anyone with knowledge of web design/cybersecurity knows this.
If I ran this website, I will be able to discern legitimate vs fake accounts. The software to do so is there. It’s a matter of installing it and using it.
Commit a crime and state that you did so on any site, see how fast you are located and placed in handcuffs. Just a heads up.
You should have given at minimum 2 or 3 examples of false or misinformation to support your story. As it is now you are basically talking without proof or facts. U doing the same thing you condemning.
Stop lying to us.
nail on the head ingrid.
Only the poorly informed can be easily misinformed. It is not commonplace to give or get the WHOLE story in this our little BVIs. You had an influential position and I can’t recall the structures of information decimation you advocated. The truth hurts but medicine never promises ease it promises relief. How about you talk to those who truncate information and ask them to enlighten the public so that we are “protected from those “misinformants”.
She correct
Let’s institute programs that restrict free speech. Let the government control our thoughts. Our voice and our movement. They will overlord us and tell us what is good and bad
I want a utopian society where everyone is the same and behaves. Those who step out of line shall be re-educated. Failing that, they are kicked out.
What a blessed place this could be