Freedom of Expression

Grenada

Quote of the day

Everyone has the right to freedom of thought and expression. This right includes freedom to seek, receive, and impart information and ideas of all kinds, regardless of frontiers, either orally, in writing, in print, in the form of art, or through any other medium of one's choice

Article 13 of the American Convention of Human Rights

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PRINCIPLES 10 AND 11 DE THE DECLARATION OF PRINCIPLES ON FREEDOM OF EXPRESSION (Use of defamation laws by public officials, and desacato laws)

 25.              In May 2004, the director of the Government Information Service, Selwyn Noel, warned the media that they could face legal proceedings if they reproduced an Article published May 15 in KYC News (a Miami-based newspaper) that included reports of alleged irregularities said to have been committed by the Prime Minister of Grenada, Keith Mitchell. On May 27, 2004, journalist Leroy Noel was arrested and detained at the Saint George's police post for questioning on his responsibility in disseminating information that appeared in the weekly Spice Isle Review related to Mitchell’s alleged corruption. Leroy Noel was released after being questioned for four hours. Nonetheless, the journalist’s lawyer did not discard the possibility that his client might be detained once again or sued for defamation.[1] On June 2, Noel received an anonymous death threat suggesting he stop writing about the Prime Minister. Related to the same case, on June 1, 2004, Odette Campbell, host and program director, announced she was stepping down from her position at the Grenada Broadcasting Network (GBN), in which the state is a 40% shareholder. That was her response to a one-week suspension after protesting against the government threat to bring charges against anyone who reproduces information implicating the prime minister in the above-mentioned corruption case.[2]

 

[1] Reporters without Borders (RSF), June 3, 2004, www.rsf.org, and International Freedom of Expression Exchange (IFEX), June 1, 2004, at www.ifex.org.

[2] Reporters without Borders (RSF), June 3, 2004, www.rsf.org.