ACM Statement on the Barbados Advocate’s termination of Editor Rawle Titus

March 29, 2012 – The Association of Caribbean Media Workers (ACM) acknowledges receipt of correspondence from its affiliate, the Media Workers Association of Grenada (MWAG) on the issues leading to the termination of the services of the Editor of the Grenada Advocate, Rawle Titus.

The ACM is treating this incident as a matter of considerable concern and we reiterate our high regard for and recognition of MWAG as the representative body for journalists in Grenada.

The ACM is very concerned about this development, more so as it concerns Mr. Titus, the President of MWAG. We have reviewed the issue by noting the public pronouncements of government representatives, submissions by MWAG to the ACM and other supporting documents including the article that led to the dismissal of Mr. Titus.

On the question of Mr. Titus’ relationship with the newspaper, the ACM acknowledges that we have no standing as a representative labour organisation. We however believe there are options open to Mr. Titus we would encourage him to pursue based on inviolable labour principles and standards and applicable legislation.

We also believe there is strong evidence to support the veracity of the story as published in the Grenada Advocate of March 9, 2012 and are of the view that the Barbados Advocate appears to have accepted counter-arguments without taking into proper account the position outlined by its own local editor.

We also take note of public pronouncements that the ACM has issued a statement on this matter. The ACM categorically denies having issued any statement on this matter prior to this dispatch.

The ACM is hoping that all parties concerned arrive at mutually accepted resolutions on the issues concerned in the interest of the practice of independent, professional journalism and unfettered freedom of the press. We will continue to monitor the situation and have alerted our international partners to this situation.