An appeal has been made to the executive of the now dormant Media Workers Association of Dominica (MWAD) to keep on attempting to breathe new life into the association.
Veteran journalist and Managing Director of Dominica News Online, Tim Durand, believes efforts must be made to revive the association, while Press Attaché to the Prime Minister, Daryl Titre, believes the association has always been “dysfunctional” and “incapable” and that some of the executive members need to be sent packing.
But the man at the helm of that Association, talk show host, Matt Peltier, is arguing that efforts have been made to get the association going, however, politics has taken its toll.
“We have tried, we have tried, we have tried, but I think our media workers in Dominica, a lot of them, have become too partisan and too political, hence the reason why I think that we are not doing what we should be doing as media workers of Dominica,” he said.
Addressing an award ceremony hosted by the Concerned Citizens Movement (CCM) to recognize journalists and media houses for their hard work in Dominica, Durand said it is rather unfortunate that MWAD is “practically non-existent.”
“And I make this call to the people who are involved, to make an effort,” he said. “I know you try, and the association is not the executive, the association is the membership, and if people are not interested and do not participate there isn’t much that the executive can do. But I still make an appeal to you try. Try again and again and again, to try to revive the association, to bring members together.”
Durand opines that if the association “performs effectively” it can do a lot to improve the status of media workers in Dominica.
Titre, on the other hand, believes MWAD has not done anything beneficial for media workers on the island.
“I would advise that MWAD be disbanded because MWAD has never performed at any function that has been beneficial to Media Workers in Dominica,” he told members of the media on Thursday 25th June 2015. “I have known certain Presidents of MWAD who have served for decades and there have never been meetings. MWAD need to reorganize, it needs to be redefined…”
He questioned the purpose of MWAD in its present state.
“What does MWAD want to do? Is it a media workers association? Is it a club? Is it something that works for the media workers, or is it just a one man show, that they get to say they belong to an association every now and then when they feel that it benefits them?” he asked.
When questioned on Peltier’s remarks of members of the association being too political, Titre said, “That is like Satan trying to correct sin.”
He urged young and upcoming media workers to take ownership of the association.
“What are the accounts of MWAD? Who are the people on the executive of MWAD? All these things have to be answered and until young people in the media take ownership of their profession, MWAD will go nowhere and will prove to be as beneficial as it has ever been and it will be no benefit to anybody,” he said.
Titre is government press officer,so when he speaks he represent government,we expect that,cause that his job.if the other journalists are public relations officers for political parties they must say so.cause if you are perading as an independent journalist,people expect opinions that appear to be fair balanced and non polemical
is there a School of Teaching/Learning for Persons on the Island who wish to become Journalist?
the media in dominica we really don’t have because the so-called media personnel are haters of skerrit.
many of those so call journalist must say mea culpa a thousand times. all i know when Edison James was prime minister they were alive and well including the religious leaders who speak with a fork tongue
Seriously, we need wome real people in our media. We cant really get to real story on any media house in Dominica. They all are slanted to one side; and all calling each other fools. Matt calling Kamala a fool, Angelo calling matt a fool, Angelo calling carlisle a fool, and Kamala calling all of them donkeys. Its amazing how all are in the same pot and not seeing their faults. In all I think Angelo is the most experience informative one; and yes he too is very one sided; but he has some humoour and gives good history. We as the audience just have to be smart and not decifer the facts from the politics. My favorite show in all the media houses is Espeyance Kreole – with Felix Henderson. love the Angelo Alleyne Shows as well. The Heng with the former Queen is a drama show, and on Wednesdays its “Angelina Joli and Brad Pit” according to the drama queen.
The Media houses are too divided, thanks to politics. The media workers are very unprofessional.
As the founding president of MWAD, and after having read the article, I hope young journalists fully understand Tim Durand’s position and why it is important for there to be a functioning MWAD..
After all I would hate to think MWAD “has always been “dysfunctional” and “incapable”..
Think of the profession and make MWAD a reality again..
Peter
I agree with Peter Richards. The organisation is a major benefit to media workers especially in the enhancement of CSME. There needs to be reorganization, and a firm commitment and interest to free expression of the media. The appeal now is to media workers to take on the mantle. Currently there are two persons who are involved in the Association, though inactive, so the likes of the Moderator of the Whatsapp group “DCA Media Workers” can get in touch with these two persons and let’s see what happens from there.
I cannot get over that one and I quote: “We have tried, we have tried, we have tried, but I think our media workers in Dominica, a lot of them, have become too partisan and too political, hence the reason why I think that we are not doing what we should be doing as media workers of Dominica,” he said.
Daryl is so right: “That is like Satan trying to correct sin.”
WHOOSH look jokes just made my Friday!!!!!!!!!!
Matt my friend i suggest you start replaying your program, ‘MATT IN THE MORNING’ choose anyone on any day and think of your statement…… I WON’T ADVISE ANY YOUNG PERSON INTERESTED IN MEDIA TO JOIN YOUR MWAD AS LONG AS YOU AND CAN LIE REMAINS IN IT!!! Maybe when you stop hating mwad will mean something…….
Joe your a lost soul,continue begging Skerrit he will not be around forever,Titre is a poor soul singing for his paycheck.
Good one BRO.
I agree, something has to be done about the media. It is an embarrassment what the media has gotten to in Dominica. Really a shame that the people of Dominica can not depend on the media for fact. It is all beff and hear say. People a like Matt need to try and be a real reporter instead of a Jerry Springer nonsense reporter
Titre your a donkey for skerrit and the dirty labour party.i dont expect more form you,keep on singinging for your paycheck,skerrit will not be in power forever and you will go packing soon dude,god will free the people from skerrit,and his demise is soon.
Mr. Titre is on one hand calling for MWAD to disband whilst in the same breath he is calling on young journalists to take control of the organization. Go figure,he serves the current administration, so its no surprise, the double speak.He also points fingers at the current and past leadership,saying meetings were not held.Mr Titre,if members don’t show up for scheduled meetings, then it is hollow to blame leadership alone.This cap fits you too.Now what are your suggestions for making MWAD work.Lets hear them.When you live in a glass house,don’t throw stones
“A lot of them have become too partisan and political”, are you serious Matt? You said a lot of them? It would have best if you said, ‘We have become too partisan and too political’ because you are the worst partisan and political media person right now.
Ya man Matt!
you keep on trying.Tim is a conservative, Just see how he modeats DNO.Titr is a ??? Neo DLP/DFP acolyte ,You and LL/Starlight &U are too good. buddies.
You know why Thelma qui DA. NAD I like a dead Dohwad.God only for a broath.
“dysfunctional” and “incapable” Mr. Titre… haven’t you not heard of the old saying.. YES I CAN. Moreover are you implying that GOVT. disbands MWAD!!! if not the DLP GOVT. then who.. themselves!!!! Should MWAD disband themselves!!!! After spending how many years in China studying Architecture, is that your best contribution.. well, well Mr. Titre if only I did not meet you personally in China and the many great stories you told about your on the job training with some of the biggest architectural firms. Nothing personal but having made that huge sacrifice only to want to be the press attache peaks volumes.. I guess you fully enjoying the perks associated with the job.
Mr titre has an opinion however let’s get beyond personal opinions and look forward to the development of media professionals on the island. Guys take note on who is making the request. A respected gentleman A s a kid growing up on the island there was politics in its degree howebermefua (however media) workers like Mr Durand took no sides when decisions were being made for Co professionals
The time has come when we should focus on the task at hand and not the person designated with the responsibility
Concerned Dominican
Mr Tit is a none issue, he doesn’t exist. Off I go, boom!