Africa-Press – Cape verde. The Regulatory Agency for the Media (ARC) upheld the complaints filed by the journalist Geremias Furtado, against the then sole administrator of Inforpress, José Vaz Furtado, for alleged interference in matters under the competence of the Director of Information and violation of freedom and independence. An administrative offense procedure was also instituted against the company.
In a decision approved by the Regulatory Council, on February 28th, ARC understood that, with the dismissal of the journalist coordinating Inforpress’s social networks and the hiring of an intern to carry out this work, the then sole administrator, José Vaz Furtado, ” usurped the functions of the information director, who is responsible for appointing journalists with leadership and coordination functions, under the terms of the Media Law.
With this measure, the decision reads, the sole administrator violated the Journalist Statute, according to which “no company or media organization may admit or keep at its service, as a journalist, anyone who is not duly qualified with the respective title”.
violation of law
On the other hand, continues the same source, “José Vaz Furtado violated paragraph b) of number 3 of article 25 of the Social Communication Law”, which, in terms of appointment or dismissal of those responsible for the agency’s content, orders the Council to be heard Editorial Board, which is chaired by the Information Director.
By reaching these conclusions, the ARC upheld the complaints presented by Geremias Furtado, namely for interference in matters falling within the competence of the director of information and for violating the independence of journalists and the media.
As a result, an administrative offense proceeding was initiated against Inforpress, for violating the legal norms governing the activity of the media and news agencies.
The Case
It should be recalled that Geremias Furtado was arbitrarily dismissed as a journalist at Inforpress, on the 15th of February, after filing complaints against the then sole manager of Inforpress, Joe Vaz Furtado, for alleged harassment at work, violation of the freedom and rights of journalists and meddling in editorial matters.
Subsequently, José Vaz Furtado was exonerated from his position, by decision of the Government, which appointed, in his place, researcher Jair Fernandes, former president of the Institute of Cultural Heritage.
Last Wednesday, following a reinstatement agreement with the current sole administrator, the decision was declared void, with the journalist returning to his duties at the news agency.
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