ZBM news director Gary Moreno will be taking legal action against a Government MP after an altercation at Cup Match on Thursday.

Mr. Moreno was conducting an interview with Deputy Governor Nick Carter in the clubhouse at St. George's Cricket Club when he was approached by Devonshire North Central MP and Hott 107.5 FM president and managing director Glenn Blakeney to end his interview.

Mr. Blakeney told Mr. Moreno that he had no right to be conducting interviews since Hott FM had filming rights to this year's event.

Mr. Moreno said he had been granted permission by St. George's Cricket Club president Neil Paynter to conduct brief interviews and was in the middle of filming the Deputy Governor when he was told to shut off his camera.

Speaking to The Royal Gazette yesterday, Mr. Moreno said he was shocked and amazed that a prominent person such as Mr. Blakeney would behave in this manner.

“I wouldn't say that I am outraged but I am shocked, amazed and disappointed,” he said.

“He shoved me and I told him not to put his hands on me again but he told me that he would do it again if he wanted to because he was Bermudian and I was from Trinidad,” said Mr. Moreno.

He pointed out that union stalwart Dr. E. F. Gordon was also from Trinidad and for his nationality to be used in such a derogatory manner was disappointing.

Mr. Moreno said he agreed prior to Cup Match that he would film only two minutes of the match so as not to infringe on Hott FM's exclusivity rights. The station broadcast pay-per-view coverage of this year's Cup Match.

Bermuda Broadcasting Company CEO Rick Richardson also expressed dismay at Mr. Blakeney's behaviour, saying that he would be doing everything he could to take action with the Human Rights Commission, CURE and the courts over the Mr. Blakeney's behaviour.

“Gary Moreno will be pressing charges,” said Mr. Richardson, pointing out that ZMB is not the only media outlet which conducted interviews at the classic.

“It's standard practice for journalists from the Island's media to conduct interviews on the field. Our team often goes into the clubhouse to interviews and to talk to people about the game. It's something when we have had exclusivity rights in the past that we allowed other media to do,” he said.

Mr. Richardson said it was abusive and unprofessional for Mr. Blakeney to make comments about Mr. Moreno's nationality.

“To attack a professional person or anyone on race or nationality is something we must take action against and be concerned about,” he said.

Mr. Blakeney's radio station has been embroiled in controversy with concerns about conduct which has raised eyebrows in the community.

The Royal Gazette understands that a formal complaint was filed with the Broadcasting Commission by Belco after the station played a prank with a law firm following the power outage two weeks ago.

In an April Fool's joke, listeners also offered to give donations when the station announced it was closing. A second commercial which was sexually suggestive was aired despite the fact other media refused to air it due to its content.

Repeat attempts to contact Mr. Blakeney were unsuccessful by Press time last night.