Prime Minister Tillman Thomas says his five-month-old National Democratic Congress (NDC) administration will be moving to parliament shortly to introduce a Freedom of Information Act. "This act will hopefully enhance your access to government information and ultimately your work," he said in an address to members of the media fraternity attending the third annual awards ceremony of the Media Workers Association of Grenada (MWAG) here on Sunday night. Thomas, who was a strong advocate of freedom of the press while in opposition, noted that his government had assumed power against the backdrop of many threats and legal actions against members of the profession in recent years. However, he said he remained of the conviction that a "free and unbridled media" was a critical pillar in the efficient functioning of the democratic process. The prime minister, whose NDC government also plans to enact integrity legislation, did not give a precise timetable for action but said he was committed to ensuring that "the views of the governed, the opposition and all other stakeholders be heard and considered". Professional standards He also cautioned members of the media that greater freedom of expression would come at a price, as he called for greater attention to professional standards of conduct. "I often listen, for example, to some of our local artistes and media personalities. Based on their programming, diction, style and intonation, I sometimes wonder about whether they are of Grenadian descent and whether they fully appreciate their roles and its impact," said Thomas. Reprinted from jamaica-gleaner.com