Keith Mitchell and media on collision course

Dr Keith Mitchell, prime minister of Grenada

ST GEORGE’S, Grenada, July 27, 2007 - The Media Association of Grenada has been described as a political organization by the country’s prime minister.

Prime Minister Keith Mitchell’s comment comes on the heels of a clash between him and a reporter of the Grenada Broadcasting Network during last week sitting of the House of Representatives.

Following the walk out by Opposition parliamentarians during last week’s sitting, one of the network’s senior female reporters, who was on assignment there, sought a comment from the prime minister about the action but he reportedly gave her a scolding about his observation regarding the type of stories she files.

He also reportedly accused her of "promoting opposition news” and told her "this will not be accepted," a statement from MWAG said.

This week, responding to a question about the incident, PM Mitchell retorted: "I get the impression that I must not say anything about a media person. I was accosted by a media worker in the parliament ... and for the media to take it up and put out something criticizing me, without asking me a word … MWAG and the local media has just certified that they are a ‘political organization.’"

He added that the political agenda is not just among members but also within the leadership of the Association. The PM also insisted that media workers would not be able to stop him for speaking critically of them especially when they act irresponsibly.

He promised to deal with the matter in depth at the upcoming sitting of the House of Representatives, scheduled for next Wednesday.

Meanwhile, General Manager of the GBN, Richard Purcell has confirmed that a member of his staff has filed an official report about the threat made to her by Prime Minister Mitchell.

Purcell said that the employee has also filed an official report to the management. "I can tell you that we have already called our reporters and spoken to them about the issue. We advised them to continue with their assignments as normal."

The Media Workers Association of Grenada also claims that the behavior of the prime minister is not an isolated issue but one that deserves attention.

"Indeed, if this was the first time the prime minister had verbally accosted a journalist, we might have easily dismissed it as an aberration. But we fear there might be a trend here,” said the organization.

Government is a shareholder of GBN and MWAG said that it view the final part of the prime minister's statement as a threat that deliberately made in an attempt to intimidate and possibly silence any of the station's reporters who report on news not to the liking of the prime minister.

Advising Dr Mitchell that there is a mechanism where he can properly raise such concerns, the statement added: "the fact that he has chosen to do so in a very public and openly hostile manner, must be roundly condemned by everyone who appreciates that journalists would be allowed to do their duties without unwarranted intimidation, especially by someone in the powerful position of prime minister". (Hardbeatnews.com)