THE Media Workers Association of Grenada (MWAG) is deeply concerned about the mischaracterization of a recent issue involving a longstanding colleague Mr. Leslie Pierre, and the consequent questions asked about our organization’s response.

The issue was unfortunately given a level of political currency it never deserved when Opposition Leader Dr Keith Mitchell seemed to suggest that Mr. Pierre was jailed, as an attack on the press, and the wider Grenadian society was not in outrage.

Indeed there was no outrage because Dr Mitchell’s comments were not based on any objective fact.

While we may even understand every politician’s penchant to make mischief in attempts to score political points, the subsequent stories released by the Caribbean Media Corporation – ostensibly in reaction to that comment by Dr Mitchell – were inaccurate, unfortunate and troubling.

The Caribbean Media Corporation’s report suggested that MWAG has sat idly by while our veteran colleague was jailed for defamation.

But CMC’s initial story on the matter and its subsequent retraction are riddled with inaccuracies and assumptions that lack context.

Based on our research immediately following the jailing of Mr. Pierre last week, we were satisfied that the development was in no way related to a freedom-of-the media issue, or any attempt to intimidate and silence him as a journalist or commentator.

As unfortunate and saddening as the development was, we were left in no doubt that the matter was a personal tragedy on many fronts, and our role was then to give private moral support to a colleague and friend, because of his longstanding.

Our investigation had revealed that Mr. Pierre had owed the court a sum of money for services rendered on a long outstanding matter, and had failed to pay.

As a result, through a court-ordered bench warrant on the July 6th, he was arrested and brought to court to answer directly on his failure to pay.

During the hearing Mr. Pierre got upset and used expletives and was generally seen to be uncooperative. The judge in the matter, deeming his behavior disrespectful then slapped him with a contempt of court charge and ordered him arrested.

The contempt of court arose from his remarks to the judge during the sitting, and as a result of refusing to agree for an arrangement to make the already outstanding payment.

He was taken to Richmond Hill Prison and remained there for two hours before he was released shortly afterwards when a Good Samaritan paid the court the outstanding fine.

The judge also immediately rescinded the contempt of court charge after presentation was made on his behalf to show that Mr. Pierre, who is diabetic with a heart condition, was ailing.

Having been made aware of the facts – which we crossed-checked with a variety of sources – to be true and accurate, we were satisfied that there was no freedom-of-press issue arising; and that what transpired was in no way an attempt to intimidate Mr. Pierre in his role as a journalist.

Within days of the incident, opposition leader Keith Mitchell by way of his public utterances and a press release from his New National Party started the mischief by suggesting Pierre was jailed and the media did not come to his defense.

The issue did not get the traction in the local media because everyone who had followed the story understood the facts as outlined here.

Some local media reported the fact of his arrest, but could not make any freedom-of-press complain claims, because there was none.

It was the regional media which fell for the rumors and innuendos.

Thus the wrong impression has been given that MWAG was negligent in its approach to the matter.

MWAG, as one of the more active media bodies in the region, has established a clear track record of action and advocacy in the interest of practitioners.

We have also invested heavily in training in our determination to make for a better pool of media practitioners at home. 

In both private and public declarations, we have beseeched local practitioners to be fair, accurate and balanced in their reporting at all times.

Ironically, it was that courtesy that was not afforded us by the reporting of our regional colleagues.