Cabinet plays tit for tat with Observer Group and says Gov’t Ministers will not appear on radio or be interviewed

The Antigua Labour Party (ALP) appears to be playing tit for tat with the Observer Media Group because of the latter’s decision to remove Government Spokesman Lionel “Max” Hurst from its Monday-morning programming.

In apparent retaliation, the Cabinet Notes of March 10 report, the Executive “was unanimous in its continued refusal to have Ministers [of Government] appear on the Observer Radio and before the Observer Media Group for interviews.”

But several residents have responded to this decision with glee. 

“Good thing!  Now Darryl Matthew and Chet Greene can find some useful work to do,” says a sports fan. 

Meanwhile, a banker who has often complained about the heavy government content of Observer Radio’s news reports, says she welcomes “the relief” the Ministers’ absence will bring.

While the ALP refers to Hurst’s removal as an outright ban, Managing Director Algernon “Serpent” Watts has said he can call into the radio station just like anyone else.

However, the party’s chairman, Paul “Chet” Greene, has demanded that the “ban” be rescinded “in the name of the freedoms enshrined” in the Constitution and in other treaties and charters to which this country is a signatory.”

In spite of Watts’ clarification, Greene views the decision as a ban, and he described it as a “most flagrant violation of media freedom that must be noted by regional and international bodies” and “warrants the strongest censure.”

Because Watts is a declared candidate for the United Progressive Party (UPP) in the next general elections, Greene has concluded that his decision is a willful abuse of media control for a political purpose. 

Further, the ALP Chairman said that Hurst’s relegation diminishes his function of providing information to the public.  Hurst is not “like everyone else,” he said, and should not have to call in to make information available. 

Accordingly, Greene has described the decision to “ban” Hurst as arbitrary, high-handed and wrongful, and called for an immediate public “withdrawal of [Watts’] statement without any slipperiness.”

He has also directed the media entity to fact-check Hurst for lies and allow him on other programmes to clarify his statements.

Many of the radio station’s supporters have reacted positively to Hurst’s removal from the Monday line-up.   Scores of people have reminded the ALP that – except for the leaders – opposition parties have not been allowed access to ABS-TV and Radio, which are State-owned and funded by tax-payers.

Accordingly, they have advised Watts to “stand his ground” and not back down.