I write to share my experience as a parent and social commentator and journalist as it transpired with the Grenada Broadcasting Corporation, now under the leadership of Janelle Mc Donald, listed as its news coordinator and acting CEO with the organisation.
One of the leading principles of the practice of journalism is that the public has a right to know. Apart from news, that knowledge can come through news commentaries or other long format programs that seek to unpack matters of public interest.
So, by a YouTube upload of 24 August, I heard the GBN story that the GUT President, Jude Bartholomew had indicated that he was informed by some teachers who attended a workshop with the Canadian Teachers Association and other persons that they were told that the LGBT agenda was under consideration for addition to the schools’ H.F.L.E. curriculum in September 2023.
The Ministry of Education through its Minister, David Andrew, after two weeks, dismissed such claims in Parliament on August 29, 2023. “We have no plan to introduce any such curriculum,” he said.
Many parents have expressed concern and an informal public debate of wide proportions followed.
I thought that something so historic and controversial should be publicly discussed so I called GBN for almost two months asking to let such a conversation take place on their media. Eventually, two weeks in advance, a date was set for Monday, October 16 from 8:35 -10:00 P.M. (Beyond the Headlines).
On that very day at 3:55 p.m. I called Mrs. Mc Donald and was told that the programme is in limbo because her assistant failed to finalise the arrangements, based on her (Mrs. Mc Donald’s) follow up calls with the panelists. That assistant had called me on the Friday, and it was my understanding that all was set to go.
Anyway, Mrs. Mc Donald indicated that the programme would be cancelled because the panelists were not available. She never offered to reschedule the programme but when pressed she said we may be able to do it another time. She was seemingly relieved she had put the matter to rest, sorry I mean to death.
How much more sifting and filtering of issues happen at GBN so that the public would think they are being informed, but in reality, are being denied information and views they may find valuable to help shape their own views. This is censorship; or worse, mind control. Responsible media have no business doing that.
For decades our local media have been either self-censored, owner-censored, state-censored, or most recently United Nations-censored. Is there a need for more real journalists? It is a good time to heal this lameness in the society we like to consider “free” and let’s have this conversation.
Zarah Chase
M.A. International Communications and Development