WEEK ENDING FEB 08, 2003   

BAPTISTE ACCUSES DR. MITCHELL OF BEING RESPONSIBLE FOR GBN PROBLEMS  

Deputy Political leader of the Grenada United Labour Party (GULP) Michael Baptiste has accused Prime Minister and Information Minister Dr. Keith Mitchell of being responsible for the problems at the Grenada Broadcasting Network (GBN).

Baptiste, the current Opposition Leader in the Lower House pointed out that Dr. Mitchell was the person who sold the majority shares in the the station. Over four years ago the shares in GBN were sold to media magnet Ken Gordon of the Caribbean Communications Network (CCN) in Trinidad and Tobago. The station has not being without its problems with two major strikes within a three year period.

The workers, who are represented by the Technical and Allied Workers Union (TAWU) downed tools following management failure to settle a wage dispute involving over twenty workers. The strike at GBN forced industrial actions in other key sectors of the country represented by TAWU resulting in a virtual shut down of the country.

Only last month over thirty workers at the Network down tools after they learnt of management's decision to retrench ten of their colleagues. The workers returned to work last Monday following a deal worked out involving the management of the station, representatives of the union and Dr. Mitchell.

Both sides are expected to resume negotiations this week on the fate of the ten employees earmarked for retrenchment and are currently off the job. According to Baptiste Dr. Mitchell and his NNP must be held responsible since he went an open his own media house after GBN shares were sold. The Opposition Leader has been referring to the National Public Relations (NPR) the propaganda outfit for the ruling administration. The media house first opened an office in the constituency of St. George's North West where the incumbent is the Grenadian leader.

"I want to extend solidarity to some workers at GBN but not Odette Campbell" Baptiste said at the convention. Some of the workers have accused Campbell of helping to fuel the fire at the Network. He said that the time has come for Grenada to get rid of "Selwyn" the new name he christened Dr. Mitchell with for selling out the assets of this country.

In other related news, reports reaching GRENADA TODAY indicate that television anchor Surana Francis has resigned from GBN effective last Friday. During her stint at the Network she is known to have had several fall outs with the Current News Director and is some times removed from reading the news during the process.

Francis was one of the persons who participated in the strike action last month for her colleagues who are now earmarked for retrenchment.