Once again the issue of the right of the media to report on the private lives of political figures have raised its head following the Calistra Farrier incident with Prime Minister Dr. Keith Mitchell at a post-Cabinet Press Briefing at the Botanical Gardens.
THE NEW TODAY is fully on the side of the journalist for seeking to ask the Prime Minister about rumours in the public domain for months now that he has divorced his wife of many years, Marietta Mitchell.
This newspaper cannot agree with those who hold the view that this is the private business of the Prime Minister and as he told Ms Farrier: “Don’t go there”.
The electorate has a right to know whether the person offering him or herself to occupy the office of the Prime Minister is married, single, gay, lesbian, or is a gambler and cheat.
The people of Grenada, Carriacou & Petite Martinique have come to accept the Barbadian-born Marietta Mitchell as First Lady and have a right to know if her status has changed and for whatever reason.
The issue of Dr. Mitchell’s marriage status attracted many when he was a “no-show” a few weeks ago at Marietta’s 70th birthday party in his own St. George North-west constituency.
Over the years, the media has delved into the private lives of many public figures including Presidents, Prime Ministers, and members of the Royal Family in England.
Former US President Bill Clinton faced impeachment proceedings when he was caught lying about an affair with an employee in the White House by the name of Monica Lewinsky.
The British Media also had a 24-hour watch on the late Princess Diana who separated from Prince Charles and later developed a close relationship with Dodi Al Fayed, the son of an Egyptian billionaire.
The same British press also reported extensively on Prince Charles’ extra-marital affair with Camilla Parker Bowles whom he later married.
There is also current U.S President Donald Trump who has been peppered in the U.S media with a string of extra-marital affairs before entering the White House and even paying hush money to keep some of the women quiet during the Presidential campaign.
Newly installed British Prime Minister Boris Johnson has been under scrutiny by the media over his private life including a recent incident which took place at the flat of his mistress in which the Police were called in following a report made to them.
Johnson has continued to avoid the many questions thrown at him by the British media about the incident and other aspects of his personal life.
So, Ms. Farrier was perfectly right and in order to ask Prime Minister Mitchell about the alleged divorce from his wife.
The issue of Dr. Mitchell’s private life has political relevance to everyone in Grenada, Carriacou & Petite Martinique.
Former Attorney General, Cajeton Hood told reporters this past week that he intends to write to the Integrity Commission to investigate reports about an affair between the Prime Minister and a certain person who is a senior employee within the Ministry of Finance, which falls under Dr. Mitchell’s portfolio.
There have been murmurs for some time now that the mistress has been pushing her weight around the ministry and causing a certain amount of unease and disquiet in the public service.
If true, is this being done because of the alleged relationship with the Prime Minister? The public has a right to know.
The people of Grenada also have a right to know whether certain decisions and actions taken by the government or their Prime Minister are influenced because of this alleged extra-marital affair.
The position held by THE NEW TODAY is that anyone who intends to run for the office of the Prime Minister is opening up himself to public scrutiny.
This newspaper believes that everyone is entitled to a private life but on the other hand the Prime Minister or any major public figure cannot tell the media that none of what they do should not be reported since it has no political relevance.
And equally important the journalists cannot hold the view that they know or have evidence that a decision was taken based on a particular compromising relationship and will hide it from the public.
The problem with our current Prime Minister is that he is riding very high after getting the electorate in Grenada to return him into office with clean sweeps three times against his political opponents.
And some of the decisions being taken by the Prime Minister are seemingly clouded by these massive victories at the polls in which the island is somehow seen as his personal domain and kingdom and as such no one must question any of his actions and decisions.
However, our law courts have proved him wrong time and time again with the latest being the decision last week by high court judge, Justice Godfrey Smith on the blatant attempt to circumvent the Grenada Constitution to get at Grenlec on the 5% issue.