A former regional press journalist who became a daily newspaper editor in the Bahamas has faced an angry demonstration demanding his deportation.

John Marquis, who edited the Packet series in Cornwall for ten years, is shortly due to retire as editor of Nassau-based daily The Tribune.

But the 65-year-old, no stranger to controversy during his time in the Caribbean, seems determined to go out with a bang.

Yesterday he faced protesters yelling “Marquis got to go!” after he carried an article attacking the legacy of a popular former Bahamian Prime Minister, Sir Lynden Pindling.

It was the fourth public demonstration in two years against Marquis, who was blamed for bringing down the Bahamas government in 2007 when he published front page pictures of a Cabinet minister embracing cover girl Anna Nicole Smith on a bed at her Nassau mansion.

The minister was forced to resign, triggering the Progressive Liberal Party’s collapse at the polls three months later.

The latest furore was prompted by an article, written by Marquis, in which he quoted a former PLP official who linked Sir Lynden with Colombian drugs czar Joe Lehder.

Yesterday’s demonstration blocked the street outside The Tribune’s office, causing a mile-long traffic tailback.

Marquis, 65, is a former London sports editor of Thomson Regional Newspapers, which included The Scotsman, the Western Mail and other leading regional newspapers.

In his early days, he worked on the Northampton Chronicle and Echo and the Nottingham Evening Post.

John told HoldtheFrontPage: “It’s good to see democracy in action. Thankfully, it seems to have gone off peacefully.”

He is due to retire in May after 48 years in journalism.

Comments

ob (18/03/2009 08:51:06)
Did you mean Caribbean?

ob (18/03/2009 12:18:07)
Thought so….
Who does your subbing? Lucky all those media companies aren’t getting rid of subs. Oh, hang on….