Prime Minister Tillman Thomas has warned local journalists not to engage in political activities while trying to inform the population about the socio-economic development of the island. Addressing the annual media awards of the Media Workers Association of Grenada (MWAG) on Sunday night, Thomas said that his administration has always favoured press freedom and had in fact adopted measures including repealing libel laws here so as to ensure that journalists are given full support in carrying out their functions. He said his administration, which faces a general election in 2013, is also moving to repeal the sedition libel laws. “We felt journalists needed more space to do investigative journalism and we repealed the criminal libel laws,” he said, noting that his administration had also made overtures to develop with the relevant bodies here a media policy for the island. “If there is any foot dragging on getting a media policy going it is not government, we are committed to it, we recognise the important of the role of the media. “At the same time the media must be accurate, must be responsible and maintain the integrity of the profession,” Thomas said, adding “it is a great responsibility” and journalists must be strong and independent. “I am fully committed to the media and my government is committed and we will go out of the way to promote (and) enhance the media in Grenada because we recognise the role it has to play,” he said, noting, however, that last week one media establishment carried a story about the launch of a new political party that contained inaccuracies. “So when these things happen should we just sit and accept it? We have to correct it,” he told journalists, diplomats and members of the private sector community, adding “the only time I complain about journalist and the media is when they are being dishonest and deceptive”. He urged journalist not to allow themselves to be used by politicians and said that is a problem not only in Grenada but in the wider Caribbean. He said “some journalists” fall into the trap where politicians want to control all aspects of the media. “You ought to be independent and recognise the important role you are playing in society, to educate, and inform,” he said, adding “you have to be honest, you have to be frank and realistic”. Thomas reminded journalists that he has always been supportive of press freedom and that he had been jailed by the left wing administration here, adding he had no plans to “frustrate the media”. “I recognise the importance of the media but at the same time they must maintain the integrity of the profession. We must be accurate, we need to minimise the integrity deficit,” he said, adding “journalists must not put spin on issues, journalists must just report the facts and educate the public”. He warned if journalists enter the arena of politics “then they will be dealt as a politician”. “The government of Grenada under my leadership will not do anything whatsoever to frustrate...the media, but at the same time we will move to deal with inaccuracies.” Thomas said that his administration has “great regard and respect for the media and what is regarded as the fourth estate and this government has been working with all the stakeholders ...and the history will show that over the last four years we have done a lot to advance not only the media, but democratic institutions in the society”. He said before his ruling National Democratic Congress (NDC) came to power in 2008, no opposition politician was allowed to appear on the state-owned Government Information Service (GIS) programmes. Source: Carib360