As we pay tribute to the late Anthony “Jericho’’ Greenidge in his role as a broadcaster and commentator on radio, it is perhaps fitting to examine the media in the context of politics and election. There was perhaps no one as fearless as Jericho in keeping our politicians honest, and in speaking his mind about our leaders and political parties. Jericho could not be bought or sold.
It is against this background that we can begin by looking back at the general election of July 2008 and the defeat of the New National Party (NNP) administration of former Prime Minister Dr Keith Mitchell. Rightly or wrongly, he felt it was over for him when he lost one crucial battle – the media.
The Labour Movement had turned its back on him; the NGO community had become more than skeptical; and the religious movement had long deserted him.
But it was his inability – in his view – to either control or influence the media that he always rued the most for his defeat. And so Dr Mitchell – and his advisors –have systematically sought to change that in the three years the former PM has been out of office, and now holding the title of Leader of Her Majesty’s Loyal Opposition.
Except for the occasional digs (which is rooted in his natural political DNA), Dr Mitchell has stayed clear, under advice we understand, of not being at perpetual war with the media, like it seemed when he was in power. Even when he has believed that the coverage was not favorable enough he has taken it in stride.
If there is one local politician who understands the value of the media – and is willing to spend on it – is former Prime Minister Mitchell.
And Dr. Mitchell has enough friends who have worked with him in various media and advisory roles and are willing now to assist him in the lead up to the next general election.
One simply has look at the outfit that made the recent move to reshape the editorial output and layout of the island’s oldest newspaper, Grenadian Voice. It would not be at all surprising if the paper becomes increasingly partisan in its coverage as election draws near.
Meanwhile, The Board of Directors of the Grenada Broadcasting Network has just sold the GBN morning slot to a company whose senior executive is Barry Collymore, former press secretary to Dr. Mitchell.
Collymore and his colleagues are producing and directing a new morning show where the GBN once produced its own. And our sources say – by Grenadian standards – it is for a hefty change.
Before Mitchell left office he had encouraged the set up of a network of radio stations he could depend on – Sister Isle in Carriacou (openly owned by his Deputy Elvin Nimrod); Real FM in St Patrick; CRFM in St George’s; and the struggling SAC FM in St Andrew.
WEE FM, one of the most popular stations in Grenada, is owned by Dr Mitchell’s caretaker and likely candidate for St John. Now involved in news at the station is Selwin Noel, who served as Mitchell’s chief propagandist as head of the Government Information Service; and who only two election cycles ago was a likely candidate for his party.
Dr Mitchell’s influence is believed to extend to CC6 TV News – whose news has been more challenging and questioning of the current government than the other two major television news shows.
The GBN-aired television show, ‘Business Files’, is believed to be a key link in the new message of Dr Mitchell. Its producer has grown increasingly critical of government on her comments on Facebook in the last few months.
The main sponsor of ‘Business Files’ is Steele’s Auto – run by the man who is being promoted as the opposition NNP’s next candidate for the Town of St George.
In his bid to return power, Dr Mitchell is undergoing an image change-over – and for him – it is not a bad place to start by controlling the system that helps paint the image.
Jericho, who was part of the system, would have looked askance at the attempt at political control of the media landscape.
November 11, 2011, editorial of The Grenada Advocate