St. George’s, October 6, 2012 – President of the Media Workers Association of Grenada (MWAG), Rawle Titus, is accusing the head of the Government Information Service (GIS) of “potential breaches’’ of the rules governing public servants.

Titus made the accusation against GIS director, Ray Roberts, whom he claims is also “giving directions’’ in the production of news at the MTV television station, which was founded by the late businessman, Errol Maitland.

“Your association at a supposed private station is in conflict with Public Service rules and your potential breaches of those,’’ Titus said in an open letter to Roberts, a former MWAG president.

“That you could get away with that aspect of the issue,’’ Titus told Roberts, “I will put down to an ineffective Service, and to your bosses, otherwise committed to good governance and respect for institutions, choosing to look the other way.’’

Titus’ letter is in response to one from Roberts in which the GIS director charged the MWAG president of “destroying the reputation and the image of the organization’’.

Roberts penned the letter after Titus issued a statement, saying that MWAG was “alarmed by evidence of the growing intolerance of the current government to opinions and views it sees as critical to it in the media. Media owners and workers are reporting of increased pressures – both overt and covert – by high profile officials acting on behalf of the administration of Prime Minister Tillman Thomas.’’

The Grenada government denied the allegations against it, and Roberts says one concern is that Titus “has made MWAG his personal property’’.

Titus was a senior employee at the weekly Grenada Advocate, until he was dismissed by the Barbadian owners of the paper over a frontpage article published in April.

The article drew complaint from government officials and Titus said pressure from the administration of Prime Minister Tillman Thomas forced his employers into firing him.

According to Roberts, Titus “has allowed his emotion and personal problems with his former employer to supersede that of the national association’’.

Titus calls Roberts’ remarks “disingenuous’’ and “self-serving,’’ saying that the GIS director seems to have taken “a negative attitude towards any commentator who appears to be critical’’ of his government bosses.

“If any member of the association should have abstained from commenting on MWAG’s stance against any government position or attitude, it should be you, since your role as chief propaganda agent puts you in conflict between your allegiance to the government of the day and your unpaid membership of MWAG,’’ Titus responded to Roberts.

“It is that same ethical challenge,’’ added Titus, “that should have forced you into opting out of giving directions to MTV News, since as the chief propaganda agent of the government, your presence will unfairly taint the work of an upcoming young bunch of proud professionals at the station. Your direction is not fair to them nor to the station they represent.’’