It appears that two organizations will be representing media workers in Dominica at the General Assembly of the Caribbean Association of MediaWorkers (ACM) in March in Barbados.
The new Dominica Press Corps has been granted observer status at the meeting, while the Media Workers Association of Dominica (MWAD) will attend, although its status as a full-fledged member of the ACM has been suspended.
In January both organizations met with the ACM Executive Committee to chart the way forward in the relationship between the ACM and media workers on the island.
“We consider the exchange of views and information to have been valuable in determining a way forward with respect to the relationship between the ACM and Dominican media workers,” a letter from the First Vice President of the ACM Jabari Fraser to both organizations said.
According to Fraser, in the ACM’s judgment, some issues have to be considered by both MWAD and the Dominica Press Corps.
They are:
1. The legal standing and official recognition of the organisations;
2. The representative spread of the respective membership bases;
3. The independence of the organisations to play the role of defender of press freedom;
4. The current operational status of the organisations.
In his letter, Fraser stated that both groups did not satisfactorily meet all of the above requirements.
“It is our considered opinion, following our discussions with you and examining other information we had at hand, that neither organisation satisfactorily meets all of these requirements,” he wrote. “We are prepared to discuss this in greater detail at a later date, if you so desire.”
Fraser proposed a number of positions for purposes of the General Assembly, slated for March 3, 2018:
1. MWAD’s membership status as a full-fledged national association is now suspended pending regularisation of its operations. Focal Point status will now be accorded Carlisle Jno Baptiste.
2. The Dominica Press Corps will be permitted representation at the Assembly bearing Observer Status.
3. Both organisations will be given the opportunity to re-submit an expression of interest in becoming a full-fledged member organisation by September 30, 2018.
Interim President of the Dominica Press Corps, Garvin Richards, said the new organization has some work to do to be a full member of the ACM.
“So we have some work to do to get things in place for it to become a full-fledged member of the ACM,” he stated.
Richards noted that the Dominica Press Corps will be holding its first annual general meeting on February 3, 2018 at the UWI Open Campus.
“Of course this is one of the steps that we have to take to become a full-fledged member…,” he explained. “Also to have to present a constitution, so we are putting things in place where we can become full-fledged members and we are hoping to get that done as soon as possible.”
Meanwhile, Jno Baptiste said that contrary to popular belief, MWAD is not dead nor defunct.
He said the organization will be resubmitting its expression of interest in again becoming a full-fledged member of the ACM.
He will be attending the General Assembly.
See the letter to both organizations below.
Look at the picture… Dominica press corps? Is that the best we can come up with, just picking a few people from the street, make sure they are DLP supporters and voilà here we have the Dominica press corps. Sometimes I’m just speechless at the nonsense that goes on in this country.
You know what I mean. Journalists my royal behind
Youpaul Rossnof. You the man. You the man
So now everything for Dominicans is politics?
Yes it is. Because MWAD is the only media ocrganiztion that would ask the questions that the other media organizations afraid to ask. They will ask the opposition but not demand the same from the government. Two of the Labour Press Corps are active labour henchmen/henchwomen. You expect Laour Press Corps to be unbiased? Was tay las
Hello and good morning my people. Well will the two organizations be free of political influence and interference because base on the photograph I can see the politics in this group. This is an article that can be read world wide so why can’t they dress better. Only the lady on the far left is properly dress for the occasion. If you want yo represent us please dress properly.
ACM is really putting its reputation on line. Hope they do a thorough investigation into both groups.
The Dominica Press Corps is filled with known supporters of the ruling party and members make fun of those opposing them or the gov’t in their WhatsApp group.
MWAD is dead and was known to side with the opposition.
Dominica Press Corps should be renamed Dominica Labour Press Corps. Just look at the interim committee. Three out of the 6 are known to openly express their underdying love to labar. Sa go tan
likewise Media Workers Association of Dominica (MWAD) should be renamed United Workers Party Media Association of Dominica
I back you.
But let it be known that MWAD DIED UNDER MATT AND CAN-LIE LEADERSHIP YEA.
Total failures these two men are.
Anything they in if not dead it’s well on it’s way to.
These are the people who want to tell us wat we should do and don’t do.
Dominicans pa sot. This is why we see them as non entity.
Complete waste of time and energy I seeing when ever I see this two men. They are a true reflection of UWP and Lennox. Please know Lennox himself was a media man to.
But KPB broke his wings.
This new body will try at least but Years Matt and Can-lie is at the helm of MWAD and is a total shame and disgrace they bring into it.
The moral of the MWAD DROP TO ITS LOWEST
PEOPLE LIKE FF WHOS DAD WAS A GOOD MEDIA MAN COULD NOT EVEN TAKE MWAD OFF THE GROUND. She playing politics left right and centre under cover and thinking people sot.
Let me ask sick berry to make me a sound tan.
Gavin I wish u all the best and stay far from these two failures…
. Have you ever seen Matt declaring allegiance to UWP? You ever saw him wearing any political party shirt? You ever see him at a political event? Allu wicked too we. The truth does offend you morons eh.
Really now? What planet you on. Allu really like Jim Jones continue to drink the red kool aid so your child can get scholarship so your grand mother can get a house so you can get a pull string job. Do worry do Mother Nature gone teach us all a lesson .