GEORGETOWN, Guyana, CMC – The Association of Caribbean Media Workers (ACM) Wednesday called on the Grenada government “to issue an apology to media workers” after they were prevented from covering the week’s swearing-in ceremony of Cabinet ministers.
“The ACM supports the actions of the Media Association of Grenada (MWAG) in boycotting state events until the government issues a full apology,” the regional media organization said.
“The ACM views the recent actions as an act of disregard for the media and hopes that an apology along with an open media policy would guide the relationship between the government and the valued media workers,” it added.
On Tuesday, the Paris-based Reporters Without Borders (RSF) said it was “disappointed to see Grenada’s government bar reporters from covering its Cabinet swearing-in ceremony.
“As the new Cabinet takes power, it is essential for Grenada’s government to signal its commitment to press freedom and transparency going forward,” RSF said in a statement on RSF USA X’s (formerly Twitter) account.
Last Friday, media workers adhered to a request from MWAG. They boycotted a news conference called by Prime Minister Dickon Mitchell to introduce members of his new Cabinet following his first major cabinet reshuffle.
MWAG president Gerard Joseph, in a statement, had called for the boycott, saying, “We believe it is in the best interest of media workers and the cause of Press Freedom to signal to the government that we are not willing to accept such treatment on matters related to public interest.
But Prime Minister Mitchell said at Friday’s event, where the new ministers all pledged allegiance to him and Grenada, “We are happy to be here and to share that information with everyone at the same time, not just the media, but the members of the public.
“All the Ministers are here, and they are quite happy to take questions and to engage with the media. So from our perspective, we have not instituted any boycott of the media, any blackout of the media”.
Mitchell, an attorney, said that the internal processes pertaining to taking the oath of office are done at the official residence of Governor General Dame Cecile La Grenade, and ‘you will appreciate I have no control over the Governor General’s residence nor her schedule”.
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