Caribbean Net News reporter detained for questioning in Grenada
Friday, May 28, 2004
ST GEORGE‘S, Grenada: Leroy Noel, a regular
contributor to Caribbean Net News, was detained for questioning by police in
Grenada on Thursday morning. Noel had filed a report that he had been
personally threatened by Grenada’s Prime Minister, Dr Keith Mitchell, on
Tuesday.
Noel is said to be the first of a series of
journalists in Grenada who are being targeted in police investigations of
possible criminal libel against Mitchell. Noel was later released from custody
after being questioned. The Media Workers
Association of Grenada (MWAG) has expressed its concern at Noel’s detention by
police. Michael Bascombe, First Vice
President of MWAG, said, “Our association respects the law. However, Noel's
detention appears to be another effort by the government to discourage and
inhibit the media from disseminating a recent story published in Offshore
Alert. We believe this is legitimate information that should be pursued by
media since it involves public officials.”
Meanwhile, Grenada’s parliament is due to meet Friday and the leader of the
opposition has indicated that questions will be asked about the recent
attempts by the government to intimidate and muzzle the local media. Questions
are also planned in relation to Mitchell’s trip to Switzerland in 2000 when,
according to the Miami-based Offshore Alert newsletter, he received a
briefcase containing US$500,000 from a German fraudster who at the time was a
holder of a Grenadian diplomatic passport.
This claim was subsequently denied by the Prime Minister who said he only
received approximately US$15,000 and he received no briefcase at all, but
refused to say how he received the money. A
mass rally is planned for Saturday in Granville, Grenada’s second largest
community, to protest alleged corruption within the government and its
attempts to restrict the freedom of the press.
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