INSIDE GRENADA FEBRUARY 18, 2008 The Grenada government Monday said it would allow a Jamaican journalist who was given 24 hours to leave the country to remain until her assignment is completed and insisted that it had no "issue" with journalists working freely in the country. Information Minister Enstein Louison said the Keith Mitchell government, "which respects press freedom" was also "very concerned" about the situation leading to the decision of the immigration authorities here to expel the Jamaican journalist Tenesha Thomas. The head of Grenada's Immigration Department Superintendent Jassmon Prince has denied suggestions that the expulsion was politically motivated.Thomas who has been here on special assignment for Caribupdate, a regional news agency based in Hollywood, Florida, is due to return to Jamaica on Tuesday."The immigration office has a responsibility to maintain law and order as it relates to immigration and if someone breaks the law that is our responsibility to ensure that person is dealt with justly," said Prince."So anyone who thinks there is a political motivation behind it I don't know what is their reason for saying that". Regional and international media watchdogs including the Media Workers Association of Grenada (MWAG) have condemned the expulsion branding it an attack on press freedom. Louison said that he is "alarmed that there is a perception that journalists are not permitted to travel and work freely into Grenada. "We have never had an issue with journalists working in Grenada and we don't intend for one to be made now. In fact, Ms. Thomas has been here working for over a month," Louison said. He said he was also concerned "about a large number of misleading statements which have been made on this matter. Louison said that the government respects press freedom "as a right of the people and is fully committed to the CARICOM Single Market and Economy (CSME) agreement which provides for movement of skilled nationals and which makes special provisions for journalists. "I have investigated this matter fully and I am satisfied that it is an immigration matter. My investigations have revealed that the Immigration Office acted within the law. However, it is regrettable that Ms. Tenesha Thomas and her employer Mr. Hamlet Mark did not see it fit to comply with the law. "It is also unfortunate that the journalists in question have not admitted their culpability and have instead sought to turn this into a political issue by blaming the Prime Minister and the Government for their carelessness," Louison said. A Government statement Monday said that "in the interest of press freedom, and with the full support of the Government, the Minister of Information today intervened and made representation to allow Ms. Thomas to stay in Grenada to complete her assignment". The Jamaica government said it intended to launch its own investigation into the matter. Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister, Dr Kenneth Baugh, said that based on the information received, there was no justification for the action by the Grenadian authorities.