Fazeer Mohammed Dismissed from "First Up"

Fazeer Mohammed, host of the morning talkshow - First Up - might have loss his job following an interview on last Thursday's show with Foreign Affairs Minister Dr. Suruj Rambachan.

First Up is aired simultaneously on Channel Six and Talk City 91.1 FM by state-owned Caribbean New Media Group (CNMG) and has been hosted by Fazeer Mohammed and Jessie May Ventour since June 2007.

Mohammed is now in limbo awaiting official word from interim chief executive officer Ken Ali about his status. This follows a meeting Mr. Mohammed would have had with the human resources manager Christine Johnson and was advised that the company had to undergo cost cutting measures. Mr. Mohammed would therefore be replace by Andy Johnson as a possible temporary measure.

During the interview with Minister Dr. Suruj Rambachan, Mohammed had asked the minister whether the comments made by Prime Minister following devastation during the passage of Tropical Storm Tomas, and a comment at the heads of government meeting in Jamaica earlier this year, were in his view diplomatic.

Dr. Rambachan cleared the air on the statements by the Prime Minister that both Trinidad and Caricom in any help offered, means both parties must benefit.

This situation therefore is a storm in a tea cup and there is no need for Mr. Mohammed to be dismissed as he did not seem disrespectful during the interview.