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All this week we've been reporting heavily on the case of the 23 year old Toledo resident who alleges that she was sexually assaulted during a medical examination. When Dr Desmond Arzu was charged for this on Monday - which is a first in our records - we detailed her allegation with the clear warning to viewers that the details were graphic. But, it's a story that must be told, and we did.

Well, now a trifecta of government agencies have lasered in our coverage and harshly rebuked Channel 7 News Director, Jules Vasquez.

The National Women's Commission, the Ministry of Human Development and Families, and the office of the Special Envoy for Women and Children all put their logos and signatures on a letter which scolds Channel 7 for being, quote, "offensive, unprofessional, (and) irresponsible," and warns, quote, "there are limits to freedom of information and freedom of expression."

The letter says Channel 7 should not have detailed the complaints report which they accept at no time disclosed her name or any reference to her identity.

They say that our coverage, quote, "further revictimizes the complainant who penned feelings of horror, shock, violation and trauma in the very report you so purposely exposed."

The letter warns, quote, "No freedom is unfettered and in your insatiable quest for sensationalism you have entirely ignored the journalistic ethics you should have as a media practitioner….As a consequence, we are going to seek the advice of the Belize Broadcasting Authority as to their further involvement in providing guidelines and regulations for media coverage in instances such as these."

And if all that wasn't enough, the letter then gets personal, telling Jules, quote, "we advise you to consider your own family members and how you personally would feel in such a situation."

Our editorial response is that Channel 7 stands steadfastly by our reporting on the story in our very best judgement and in support of the victim. We stress that her written complaint was not leaked to us, it was sent by a friend acting on her behalf to make sure that the media pursued what the victim feared the authorities would not, despite her pleas. She was right in that - and none of the persons who put so much energy into writing this 500 word letter once wrote to support the victim. She did copy the Minister of Human Development, who did not even send an acknowledgement. The general inaction of authorities forced her to do what she least wanted to do - which was make a police report requesting court action against the Doctor.