MWAD's STATEMENT
Contact:
Thalia Remy, President
767 616 4000
tmremy@gmail.com
MWAD ESTABLISHES “MATT LEGAL FUND” AND
PLANS PROTEST OVER PELTIER/TIMES LAW SUIT
Roseau, Dominica. September 12, 2007: The Media Workers’ Association of Dominica has established a fund to assist Times Newspaper proprietor Matt Peltier in his defence against libel charges made by Dominica’s Prime Minister, Roosevelt Skerrit.
The “Matt Legal Fund”, based at First Caribbean Bank in Roseau, comes as a result of numerous calls and emails from Dominicans here and abroad for a way to contribute to the defence of the public’s right to know.
The establishing of the fund also signals in a tangible way, MWAD’s full support of Matt Peltier and the Times in this matter. Over the past weeks we have listened with mounting concern and incredulity to the barrage of abuse being heaped on Matt and the Times following the publishing of a lead story about the Prime Minister’s assets on Wednesday, August 29 2007.
The tone adopted by the Prime Minister’s spokesperson on air, has been menacing towards the media in general and towards any individual who has dared to question the personal affairs of Prime Minister Skerrit.
We maintain our position that the Times made a fair attempt at thoroughly investigating a particular aspect of the Prime Minister’s personal finances, in the public interest. MWAD commends the newspaper for its efforts. This is the role of the news media, and the media performing its role should not be personalised or politicised.
MWAD urges young journalists and the more experienced alike, not to feel intimidated by the veiled warnings which have abounded during this episode. As news media practitioners, whether employed in State-owned entities or otherwise, it is the journalist’s duty and raison d’etre to search for the truth and report it to the audience without fear.
Though we feel that justice will prevail, the implications for good governance and the future wellbeing of our democracy are grave, should the lawsuit be settled in favour of Mr. Skerrit.
For while the courts will ponder “the truth” and whether Matt Peltier in doing his job well was “intentionally malicious”, the true issue of proper conduct in Public Office will fade into obscurity. It may also result in media workers “thinking twice” before thoroughly performing the role they have pledged to play.
In order to bring this issue to the fore and demonstrate our support, MWAD is establishing a strategy committee made up not only of media workers but other individuals from civil society. We acknowledge that alone, we cannot do all that it takes to help heighten awareness in our people of what they should expect of government officials in a good democracy.
We urge Dominican citizens to put aside Party Politics and see this issue for what it really is – an assault on every citizen’s right to know; one which could take place during the term of any political administration.
Thalia Remy
President MWAD
Media Houses In Barbados Should Take Note Of What Their Counterparts In Dominica Are Doing
BU heard about this story which is wagging all the tongues in Dominica and the neighbouring islands of the Eastern Caribbean and it peaked our curiosity. Can you guess why? Do you remember the famous Barney Lynch/David Ellis Sunday Brasstacks collision? Do you remember the question that Ellis asked Barney which caused Barney to nearly catch a heart attack? We can still hear the snort when David Ellis allegedly read an email which asked the Minister, how a former Advertising Manager at CBC from a few years ago could have afforded to purchase a small plantation said to have costed several hundred thousand dollars. We must say that the Minister reacted like a boy with his hand in the cookie jar! Subsequent events required David Ellis to appear on the afternoon call-in program the very next day and like a “looppy dog” he had to offer an apology.
By comparison, we have little Dominica often referred to as one of the “low islands” by the long nose Barbadian,
demonstrating to their Barbadian counterparts what good journalism is all about. According to the Times story, no less of a person than the Prime Minister of Dominica appears to have acquired large tracks of land in Dominica, all on a EC5,000.00 salary. The Times Newspaper has decided to ask the Prime Minister some pointed questions about two land acquisitions in particular, the rest as they say is now history.
This evening it was reported that Skerritt is suing the Editor of The Times to have certain allegations retracted. The Editor has promptly responded to say that he will not be backing down and that he will continue to ask questions. What balls! Who do we have in the press corp in Barbados that would have the gumption to stand-up to Prime Minister Arthur? We can visualize them shaking in their boots at the very thought. Is it a pipe dream to realistically expect that the millions spent to educate Barbadians over the years has gone to waste? The Right Excellent Errol Barrow must be restless over in the great beyond.
BU will join others to do what we can to agitate and advocate issues which we feel are of significance. Remember that we all must remain vigilant, a democracy is a fragile thing.