Monday, March 26, 2012

It’s not about two friends of mine…..

But the powers that have gone mad

IN THE INTEREST of full disclosure – Rawle Titus is not just a journalist, but a friend of mine.

So, too, is Richard Simon, the press secretary to Grenada's Prime Minister Tillman Thomas.

In both those cases, we all go way back – and appreciate them at both the personal and professional levels.

I may not agree with everything they have done professionally, and I am sure they have not with me either.

And that’s fair.

People who have sought through the years to take pot shots at Richard, I have always thought are unfair.

Richard works for the Prime Minister, and as long as he in this job, it is to protect his image and to boost him however he can.

He does not have to agree with him on everything or, for that matter, on anything.

That’s how a professional behaves.

If I were in his position, I’ll do the same.

Now, a few people have called me and said Richard got Rawle fired from the Grenada Advocate newspaper.

Knowing the two gentlemen as I do, I don’t think it was anything personal, and I don’t think Richard got Rawle fired.

The system got Rawle, and Richard just manages to work for the system.

And I have no less regard for either gentlemen today, than I had of them yesterday.

As a graduate from the University of Hard Knocks – I am acutely aware of how the cookie crumbles. And I have the scars to prove it, though I never want to complain too loudly.

We must get the message – the system will get you – whoever you are – once you are “manish” enough to stand up to it.

And it does not respect old friendships.

In debating what’s before us, let’s not get the real fundamental issues muddled in personalities.

You don’t have to like Richard or Rawle or both, to understand what’s at play here.

MWAG’s new stance now against Tillman Thomas should be no different from their stance against Keith Mitchell when he was in power.

Thomas, as Prime Minister now, is the head of the “system” as Mitchell once was.

And as the head of the snake, they will do whatever they are allowed to do, and can get away with, to protect that system.

There is always going to be a natural tension between those who head the system – and those whose day job it is to question the system.

That’s why all politician love those who question the system when they are out of it; and watch them with suspicion when they get into it.

And then they find ways to justify their attitude – as if they are in defense of some broad unquestionable power that is beyond reproach.

Naturally, the Prime Minister’s Office will soon respond to this new development (see the MWAG statement), with a response they were just “asking” a newspaper to correct some “inaccuracies”; and they are guarding against “irresponsible” Journalism.

(BTW, through the years I never understood who ever appointed the system to be a guard against anything irresponsible; when their conduct; their spending; their policies; their politics – are the epitome of irresponsibility).

It is one thing for anyone to point out inaccuracies, which any responsible journalist must correct if it is found beyond doubt to be such.

But since when do you demand “an apology and retraction” in two letters about some perceived “inaccuracy”, without it being seen as undue pressure when it comes from an office as powerful as the Prime Minister’s?

And when the reporter says he is satisfied with his information – after cross checking it again – you still insist on an apology – to the point where he had to standup not just for his dignity but his manhood – so that a frightened Barbadian team – unschooled in Grenadian political realities – got cold feet and sent a man home they concede that they never had to question his professionalism before.

If the letters from the Prime Minister’s office were not meant to be used as undue pressure – why the demand for an “apology” – if you said it was just some inaccuracies?

And if the reporter decided to stand by his story, isn’t the normal thing in that circumstance to release your version of events – and let the public decide?


Anything more will be to try to bully people from your position of strength.

Just as a side note – seeing the story in question was really about internal party going-ons – how come agents of the state in the Prime Minister’s Office were the ones that were back and forth on the issue?

Do they really know what’s going on in the party to ask for rebuttals?


And what about the Prime Minister’s much vaunted separation of powers?

Or is it like democracy, and press freedom? Are all those virtues, just virtues when they are convenient?

And then, they will have the gall to come up with this talk about “irresponsible” reporting.

We should be more afraid of irresponsible government.

7 comments:

  1. tilly strike again. do u forget the sophia phillip issue??? refresh your memoryhttp://www.acngrenada.com/audio/jerico_blast_pm_thomas_21_04_10.mp3

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  2. Ask members of cabinet, a dictator is emerging.Alot of persons who work hard to get tilly in power was sent home because of perceive support for peter.

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  3. is richard simon a politican???he is doing the work of the pro of the party

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  4. tilly has to go before he destroy the party. he is a lonely, angry man. you should have seen him at the general council

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  5. hamlet, glen noel is the not an information minister he is tilly's appointed special prosecutor. He is the one behind all of this and both Ray Roberts and Richard Simon with the support of (d man dat speak wit d english accent in tanteen, he ha a leg-site, broadcast, d self appointed media guru and best journalist in grenada/world - tillman friend) are the ones with glen and tilly on this trip trust me. I know both Glen and tilly hates You, Rawle, Toro; and virtually anyone that can challenge them. I have facts to back this up and now I hear he is trying to intimidate the PR's because he thinks many of them are too close to Toro and You. and for heaven sake dont u dear trust Richard. he's an antagonistic dude. don't let this christianity/church image blind you. U guys n know wat he doing in Karl Hood Constituency. (Man of God??????????) lil do u know ask d young lady in d PM's office wat he did to destroy her again she too close to Peter, Toro, Quarless, Ali and others...............what if i tell u dey even on Gerry Hopkin's case as we speak.

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  6. A quite insightful analysis.

    Here's an interesting note: Independent-minded journalists are, and always have been the bastions of freedom -- and have often been maligned and/or persecuted for fearlessly seeking and exposing the truth, in nations including some who boast "freedom of the press".

    In Grenada one can recall when efforts were made to suppress journalists including the late Alister Hughes, Clarence Ferguson, York Marryshow and others -- who were accused of reporting "half-truths" and "un-truths" -- and the closure of the only independent voice, the Torchlight newspaper, without just cause.

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  7. Quite interesting revelation

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