The media is not running government, says Antigua and Barbuda PM
by Norman 'Gus' Thomas
Caribbean Net News Special Correspondent
Thursday, October 7, 2004
ST. JOHN'S, Antigua: Prime Minister Baldwin
Spencer, who is also the political leader of the United Progressive Party (UPP)
has made it clear that the media is not running his government.
He was at the time speaking at the party's first convention since assuming
government, having defeated the Antigua Labour Party (ALP) 12 seats to 4.
Spencer's UPP is a coalition comprising factions from the Antigua and
Caribbean Liberation Movement (ACLM), the Peoples Liberation Movement (PLM)
and the United National Democratic Party (UNDP).
Spencer, a trade unionist by profession, told his audience that his UPP
Administration has a job to do and will not be run by the media. He beseeched
his supporters to remain firm to their political persuasion and not become
confused by the reports on the airwaves and in the press.
"...I want to warn some of you in the United Progressive Party, who have the
tendency of succumbing and listening and believing in some of the tripe and
the nonsense that you hear being spurt, around in this country. I want to warn
you. “You got to remain focused. You've got
to understand that the media, although it is important, and it will continue
to be important, you got to understand that we've got a government to run and
the government cannot be run by the media. The government must be run by the
people who are elected and those individuals who are placed in a position to
run the affairs on behalf of the people of Antigua and Barbuda."
The view is being expressed by many, that Spencer was sending a coded message
to the popular Observer Radio, an FM broadcast facility in St. John's which
has been accused of running the government and has begun to criticize the
6-month old administration. One of the regular contributors to the station's
many programmes is alleged to have called the deputy prime minister a
'muttonhead' during a recent broadcast.
Observer Radio which came into operation just under four years ago has a
strong news and information format and firmly believes in the freedom of
expression. However there are those who accuse the station of "going too far"
at times.
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