The Media Workers Association of Grenada expresses its deep dissatisfaction with the attempts to restrict local media coverage during the one-day visit to Grenada by British Prime Minister, David Cameron.
The limited photo opportunities afforded to a small cross-section of the media stands in the way of journalists properly carrying out their functions to inform the Grenadian public about activities in which the government is involved.
While MWAG understands that certain protocols must be followed in accommodating the visit of such a high-profile world leader as Mr Cameron, we are firmly of the view that those protocols should not run contrary to the expected operations of a free media in a democracy as ours.
We cannot be satisfied with official releases, photo-ops and hand-outs — a process that undermines our hard-fought gains in reporting the news through independent lenses.
We are also seeking a commitment from the Government of Grenada to ensure that such harsh anti-media restrictions are not employed in future visits – and that there be an ongoing dialog between government and media about each other’s responsibilities in facilitating such a high-profile event.
Shere-Ann Noel
President, MWAG
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