The local media corps has been disrespected for the past 18 months by none other than Head of State, President David Granger.
This is the view held by former Minister within the Finance Ministry, Juan Edghill, who was at the time seeking to point out that ever since taking office, the President has fielded no extended press engagements.
President David Granger
Bishop Edghill was at the time addressing members of the media corps during a press conference held at the Party’s Freedom House Headquarters.
He was speaking to the fact that the Ministry of the Presidency, each week, handpicks which journalists would meet with the President for his televised programme, ‘The Public Interest’.
Two journalists are selected each week – one from the State media and the other from identified private media houses.
On that programme, Journalists are asked to adhere to its format where the first section of the allotted half hour is relegated to discussing topics pre-determined by the President’s press and publicity team.
“You, the members of the media corps, have been disrespected for 17 to 18 months,” according to Edghill.
Directing his attention to those in the media corps present at Tuesday’s press conference, Bishop Edghill questioned, “how many times have you (media corps) been afforded the opportunity as a whole media corps to sit with the President and question him on matters of the State… that is not an opportunity that you are afforded.”He said the entire press corps is not afforded that opportunity and “if from the highest level the President chooses who he wants to sit down with on a weekly basis and perhaps the questions that you can ask and for how long you can have deliberations for half an hour, is that accountability and that must change.”
Head of State, President David Granger in September last had promised to engage more with the local media corps through press conferences but this is yet to obtain.
At the time Granger had blamed the deficit on his packed agenda and scheduling conflicts and did commit to press conferences to engage members of the media, from time to time, on major national issues, following major international engagements and as the need arises.
Members of the media have since been forced to contend with confronting the President at public forums to pose questions of topical interest and importance, but he is often scuttled away by his press and publicity team after a few questions.
Prior to becoming President, Granger hosted weekly press conferences as Leader of the Opposition.
