Stanley Charles owned the first independent radio station in Grenada. Radio La Baye, FM 90 – is an all music station. Charles and Paul Roberts managed the original NDC’s political campaign to be elected – Stanley is quite clear that the NDC undertook to give broadcast licenses and liberate the media in return for his help. Stanley has always spoken in support of the training of journalist and playing by the rules – the previous government charged him with Seditious Libel – he went to jail. Stanley says the media in Grenada is rudderless, contemptuous of rules and established standards. Charles believes Prime Minister Tillman Thomas in his opinion is not getting the best advice – allowing the GBN to escape punishment for its publication of what Stanley calls a Phantom Story – it is repugnant and deeply insidious to the practice of journalism in Grenada he argues – what follows is Stanley Charles open letter to Prime Minister Tillman Thomas and his Government. ************************************************* Prime Minister, Permit me without prejudice to question your commitment to the “Rule of Law” – you as head a government which by its public posture in matters relating to law – forces one to conclude – you are adrift at best – one would expect the rule of law to be “paramount” not because numbers among the Government are lawyers, but, in fact you are all Law Makers. I am informed - Law and Tradition dictate members of Government in the Lower and Upper House (Senate) enjoys the distinction of “honourable” – a tag for some strange reason continues outside of the HOUSE but notwithstanding the extended use of honourable by politicians in their everyday life - parliamentarians also enjoys “privileges” – there are times when politicians are immune from the law. Very few citizens enjoys “privileges” under the law in any country – in democracies parliamentarians – a most essential arm of the State – Law Makers – Journalist - The Fourth Estate of the State also enjoys privilege. Prime Minister, George Worme, editor of the Grenada Today Newspaper and Grenada Today Limited verses the Commissioner of Police – “privilege” - behave fairly and reasonably in the public interest is the question – The Lords 29th January, 2004 “In a free democratic society it is almost too obvious to need stating that those who hold office in government and who are responsible for public administration must always be open to criticism. Any attempt to stifle or fetter such criticism amounts to political censorship of the most insidious and objectionable kind.” The GBN aired a Phantom Story unlike the previous Prime Minister Dr. Keith Mitchell you appear open to criticism even unfounded criticism. It is of great discomfort to some that your Government appears accepting of “rouge reporting” – the GBN reporting of a nonfactual as a factual story and its devaluation of parliamentary broadcast something that is “sacrosanct” – on its face is underwritten by your government. Prime Minister I direct you and your colleagues to the case Reynolds vs. Times Newspapers Ltd (2001 libel) The Lords decision … “the question in each case is whether the defendant behaved fairly and responsibly in gathering and publishing the information” Here is how the decision reads Prime Minister – If journalist and editors behave fairly and responsibly, and the information is of public importance, the fact that it contains relevant but defamatory allegations against prominent people won’t permit them to recover libel damages. This ruling Prime Minister is a landmark. The GBN aired/published a Phantom Story – a story demanding breaking news status – a news tag of importance and urgency – this story was “fundamentally flawed” – it contained no facts – this story had no credible sources – the GBN can not even sight Reynolds vs. Times Newspaper Limited …we “behave fairly and responsibly” but got some facts wrong – no the GBN carried a story that is simply a “ghost” – no foundation in facts. Despite the GBN’s breach, the GBN went further – they demoted Parliamentary Broadcast in favour of commercial needs. Prime Minister your Government is upholding a breach. You and your colleagues are “custodians” of the public trust – your failure to act in the public interest undermines that trust - by allowing your friends to undermine the state – you and your Government has given a green light to the GBN to publish “falsehoods.” The GBN can continue as it has done for several years to be bias in its reporting of news and current affairs – this time the GBN can say publicly – your government has extended its privilege to Phantom Reporting, the devaluing of parliamentary Broadcast and sadly the GBN is now above the law with the blessing of your government. With great reservation I publicly question you – your Governments commitment to “the rule of law” in regard to well established rules governing The Fourth Estate – Journalism. I am informed by those who enjoy your – confident – that you Prime Minister see yourself as a “gate keeper” for the freedom of the press and you are loath to act against the media – I also understand from your most recent address to the nation – not withstanding the near paranoia of the former Prime Minister Dr. Keith Mitchell towards the media - Criminal Libel, Seditious Libel, a journalist physically threatened on the grounds of the High Court – threats to the Media in general if published! – His Government disregard for freedom of expression, freedom to publish is well advertised. Your belief Prime Minister that the nation should engage in a more soba discourse in regard to public issues is noted. One hopes that thoughtfulness on your part towards the media – the great skills deficit experience – will not be interpreted by those who construct stories from falsehoods as a green light to institute legal breaches as reporting norms. With respect Prime Minister, notwithstanding the fact that you are a lawyer – I hope the Attorney General’s Office has advised you and your Government of the precedence you are setting – by refusing to uphold the law of the land in regard to the GBN’s publishing of a Phantom Story. (The views/opinions expressed in the above article are those of the writer and not necessarily those of Grenadian Connection)