ST. GEORGE’S, Grenada: What has been termed by one person as “a tone of vengeance” has descended on the city as the ruling New National Party seeks to hit back at detractors which threatened the foundation of its rule with allegations of corruption against Prime Minister Keith Mitchell. Legal sources say that more that a half a dozen suits are being prepared against private individuals, journalists and media companies – and it most instances its “criminal libel”, which means persecutors will be seeking to jail the accuse rather than have them pay fines in a civil court. A political activist with the opposition National Democratic Congress was detained by police today and questioned about what they thought was in role in distributing pamphlets that detailed the bribery allegations against the Prime Minister. His lawyer told CARIBUPDATE that Clarence Renaud, from rural St Andrew’s was expected to be released today without being formally charged, but it is widely expected that he will be picked up again. Police sources say it is likely that he will be charged with criminal libel. Clarence Renaud, who 10 years ago was a losing election candidate for the now defunct The National Party (TNP) of former Prime Minister Ben Jones, is being accused of driving a vehicle carrying three other people who were distributing pamphlets. Government prosecutors are also reported to be looking into whether they can bring a charge against former government minister Pauline Andrew. Police sources claim that the vehicle which was used was registered in her name. Local and foreign-based journalists are not only in danger of being hauled before the courts, but it is feared that some might even have to pay with their jobs. Head of News at the Grenada Broadcasting Network Odette Campbell has been suspended, station sources reported, though it was not immediately clear as to the real reason though it appears to be connected to the ongoing controversy. Campbell was among reporters who led a protest walk-out at a government sponsored press conference to express displeasure to the government’s attitude to the local media. Another longstanding journalist, Ray Roberts, who is also the Secretary of the Media Workers Association, has been sent a demanding an explanation of his appearance on a local television show which discussed the ‘threat” of legal action that was sent out to the local media by the government in its attempt to manage the bribery allegations story. Roberts works as an Information Officer with the Government Information Service, and his ultimate boss is Prime Minister Mitchell himself as the Minister of Information. One member of the press told CARIBUPDATE that she and a few of her colleagues have been receiving threatening phone calls from suspected ruling party activists because of their perceived role in investigating the bribery allegation story. “The ruling party has decided to use the resources of the state to hound and intimidate whoever it can in an attempt to frighten people and kill this story,” one media official, who asked for his name not to be used, told CARIBUPDATE. Addressing party activists on Sunday, Prime Minister Mitchell, while saying that the press “must be respected”, served a warning that “the laws of criminal libel must be respected” too. On Monday key leaders of the party sought to distance themselves from the heckling of reporters at a party function, forcing them to abandon an attempt at coverage after they were threatened. A top executive member, when asked for his assistance in the matter, had reportedly told the media workers that their safety could not be guaranteed at the function. But Public Relations Officer of the party Terrence Forrester, while calling on local reporters to be more “responsible”, said the behavior of the activists did not have the official sanction of the party. Speaking on a television program in the presence of Forrester, Vice President of the Media Workers Association Michael Bascombe said the activists had behaved that way because they “took the cue from their leaders.” SOURCE: CARIBUPDATE.COM