The media were yesterday criticised for being unfair in their reports on Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar.

The criticism was made by Makandal Daaga, leader of the National Joint Action Committee (NJAC), one of the coalition parties that make up the People's Partnership.

Speaking at a news conference yesterday at Tower D of the Waterfront Centre, Port of Spain, where leaders of the five coalition parties came together to reaffirm its commitment to the people, Daaga said, "I think that the media has been very unfair to the Prime Minister," immediately prompting the Prime Minister to comment, "Really? I don't think so."

Daaga added, "I say so with absolutely full confidence. I don't think they have fully appreciated the fact that here is a person who is pulling together five different parties, with different ideological positions."

Asked to elaborate on his criticism of the media, Daaga said, "I think that the press must criticise, yes. But the press must also analyse the issues, the issues of the behaviour patterns in a country and put things into perspective."

He said Persad-Bissessar should be given "maximum credit", as she is a person who, for the first time in this country, is working to lead a coalition of five parties.

"...And if you cannot see it as a press, then I don't know what you would see," said Daaga, who was appointed an Ambassador to Caricom by Persad-Bissessar.

Persad-Bissessar made it clear she did not think the media was unfair.

"I don't think you're unfair, it's that sometimes the headlines don't match the stories; it creates an impression. So I don't think you're unfair, you're doing your jobs. You go out there and you write, and because the media is so competitive everybody wants a bigger story than the other one, so you're doing your jobs," she said.

"I would love for you to also do the things that Mr Daaga has talked about. In addition to carrying stories, it would be nice to see some more analytical journalists.

"At the moment, we get a lot of, as I say, headlines, but, the stories themselves are quite good, sometimes I'm quite surprised at some of the stories.

"I was reading an article by Mr Selwyn Ryan (Sunday Express columnist) recently and I was very surprised at the good things he said about me," said Persad-Bissessar.