A Broadcasting authority bill in Grenada Carraicou and Petite Martinique is very desirable. Unfortunately for Grenada the authorities there, historically, have always found it difficult to practice the separation of powers.
A Broadcasting authority bill in Grenada Carraicou and Petite Martinique is very desirable. Unfortunately for Grenada the authorities there, historically, have always found it difficult to practice the separation of powers.
Windward Island Broadcasting Service – WIBS - is the fore runner of broadcasting in Grenada. WIBS, as it was known, was an extension of the colonial authority and when local politicians came to head self-government and later independence, they all stuttered independent broadcasting.
Radio Grenada, a child of WIBS, became the voice of Prime Minister Eric Gairy. He dictated the news and hand picked the majority of workers there. The station became known fondly as radio Lionel – that is, it tells lies. When the Maurice Bishop led government – PRG – took control they heightened the irony by calling the station radio “free” Grenada. The station was anything but free.
It was under the Nicholas Braithwaite led Government that radio and TV (terrestrial and cable) saw the light of day. Prime Minister Keith Mitchell has never hidden his dislike for freedom of expression. He holds in one hand the constitution and with cameras trained on him he signs the Declaration of Chepultepec and the next day he is uttering threats to the media.
Paul Roberts is Grenada’s Mr. Broadcaster. He worked with WIBS, Gairy, Bishop, the US invaders (Spice Isle Radio) and Nicholas Braithwaite. He tells a story which is apt in regards to press freedom in Grenada. Paul Roberts is an almost legendary gold keeper in Grenada. Paul’s father, Ben Roberts was an outstanding and loyal Gairyite. Ben Roberts told a public inquiry he recalled going to the bank on a Sunday. He stuck to his story despite the commission of inquiry pointing out that the day in question is a Sunday and banks were closed. Ben Roberts came from the old school. He ran the prison, a truancy officer, and this is not said to belittle Paul’s relationship with his father – Ben Roberts must have been horrendously sadistic. Paul always relates freedom as he understands it in Grenada. … Paul to Ben Roberts: Daddy can I go to football practice? Ben Roberts to Paul: You can go…… I am not stopping you, I am not stopping you. But if you go, when you come back, I will burst your ass - a crude definition for flogging. Paul is very fond of telling that story. (Paul has learnt to accept that freedom in Grenada must always be fettered, either by the switch or by the politicians with brilliant double speak). Because as far as he is concerned that is how Grenadian politicians understand and practice press freedom – freedom of expression in Grenada.
Dr. Mitchell and his government should be judged on the facts. They have committed themselves publicly to protecting the environment and were greatly applauded by the world for their environmental stand. But in fact, sand mining in Grenada has reached devastating proportions – mangroves are being lost, fisheries habitat are deliberately being destroyed, on the sister isle of Carriacou, Tyrell Bay is a glowing example of political slight of hand. A marina is being built at the expense of the mangroves. A prestigious tropical oyster bed is threatened. A cemetery is being submerged; a precious and almost unique Grenada dove habitat is being encroached upon. Over 10% of the nesting sight of the leather back turtle in the northern part of Grenada has already been lost. In addition, government has recently introduced a suspicious amendment to the laws governing national parks. (The National Parks and Protected Areas amendment Act). The local rain forest is neglected.
Anyone doing an independent audit of the government of Grenada’s publicly stated policies will find, even with the use of forensic accounting, the Dr. Mitchell led government is estranged from the truth. So it’s not surprising when people read the green paper on the broadcasting authority bill and see that all the powers will be vested in the minister. They may very well accept Ben Roberts’ version of freedom, as practiced by Dr. Mitchell - fettered with precision.
