ST GEORGE’S – The Media Workers Association of Grenada (MWAG) yesterday condemned public statements made by Prime Minister Tillman Thomas in relation to the recent series of online commentaries by local journalist Hamlet Mark.
A week ago Thomas accused Mark of giving Grenada a bad name in the regional and international media and was dangerous for the country after the journalist claimed that Grenada’s “democracy was effectively hijacked and nobody said a word”.
But MWAG has called on the Prime Minister to withdraw his comments, guarantee the safety of Mark and restate his commitment in no uncertain terms to freedom of the press.
“While it is the prime minister’s right to robustly defend his government on any matter that is part of the public debate, we are concerned that his comments could intimidate and by extension inhibit the work of the local journalist,” MWAG said in a statement.
“MWAG believes Mark’s articles were in the best traditions of commentaries, using the most modern form – blogging.
“MWAG also believes it was not as the prime minister suggests, bent on creating instability. We do not believe it’s in the best interest of public debate, freedom of expression and freedom of the press that the prime minister should assert sinister motives that he has not substantiated with the facts,” the statement added.
The media body added that the prime minister’s statements could be interpreted as reckless and not well thought out.
“As a person who holds the powerful position of prime minister, his declaration that Mr Mark is dangerous to Grenada can be perceived as a deliberate attempt to set up the journalist and commentator as an enemy of the state,” MWAG said.
MWAG also used the statement to remind media practitioners on the island that while they have a right to support a political party they have a responsibility to strive for balance and fairness in their reporting.
(CMC)
