The Office of the Governor General on Friday handed down media guidelines informing that the governor general "does not give interviews" and if members of the media want to interview anyone else at Government House, they must take them elsewhere.
We were stunned by this most ridiculous statement, which reflects poorly on the decision makers at Government House.
There is no indication whether the new governor general, Dame Marguerite Pindling, gave any instructions for the rules to be circulated to the media.
Perhaps it is a mere coincidence that they were issued the same day she returned from seeing the Queen.
There has been strong reaction to the guidelines in multiple circles.
On social media sites over the weekend, journalists for the most part strongly rejected them as a blow to press freedom.
Speaking to National Review yesterday, former parliamentarian and Guardian columnist Philip Galanis said, "This is the most ill-advised and ill-considered statement to come from Mount Fitzwilliam in my lifetime and certainly in an independent Bahamas."
He added, "This is an attempt to muzzle the press and to muzzle the governor general and to muzzle anyone who attends any function at Government House. That flies in the face of an open society and a parliamentary democracy."
We agree wholeheartedly with Galanis.
He added, "If Government House wished to quiet or muzzle certain persons, it could have done so in a manner that would not be a threat to a free press in a democratic society.
"Former Governors General like Sir Arthur and Sir Orville and others have welcomed interviews by the press and it is extremely important for the governor general, who is the head of state, to be free to speak to those things that he or she deems are of national importance as or when he or she sees fit. I condemn this decision in the strongest possible terms and trust that this misguided decision will be reversed in the interest of an open society and for the enhancement of journalistic freedom which is the bulwark of our democracy."
Galanis said the decision runs afoul of our political culture of openness and is "clearly a reversal to pre-colonial times".
After advising that the governor general does not give interviews, the statement adds, "On national occasions, including the anniversary of independence and at Christmas and New Year's observances, messages to the nation will be issued via Bahamas Information Services".
The statement says the guidelines have been issued "in an attempt to ensure propriety and to preserve the essential decorum which must be observed at the official residence of the representative of Her Majesty the Queen".
Idris Reid, consultant to the Office of Governor General, said yesterday he does not understand the fuss over the guidelines.
"I'm surprised that people misunderstand what has been done," Reid told National Review.
"There is nothing sinister, nothing earthshaking."
Reid also said, "The guidelines are straight forward, like any other government house.
"Check all of the Caribbean and you would find the same guidelines. In fact, they have been at Government House for a long time."
Reid said he did not draft the rules, but he "helped to look at them" before they were sent out.
He also said that if the governor general decides she wants to do an interview then that would be facilitated.
There have been multiple interviews at Government House over the last year alone, including interviews with Sir Arthur Foulkes when he served as governor general, interviews with Prime Minister Perry Christie, ministers, senators and judges.
Last week, Chief Justice Sir Michael Barnett provided the media with an important update on the status of new criminal courts when he spoke on the sidelines of the swearing in of Justice Jon Isaacs to the Court of Appeal bench.
Several weeks ago, we spoke to Commissioner of Police Ellison Greenslade at Government House. He addressed the crime wave that had created widespread fears and, in some instances, panic in our communities.
We also used an opportunity at Government House to interview BTC CEO Leon Williams about the service challenges the company was facing.
Handing down a blanket prohibition to the media could cut reporters off from important opportunities to talk to various officials at Government House.
It also does not foster good relations between Government House and the media, noted George Smith, one of six surviving signatories to the Bahamas constitution.
"I believe that there ought to be a healthy relationship between those in public life and those in the media," Smith said.
"This relationship should be governed by maturity, good taste and proper decorum.
"They should also be mindful that if you are in public life, and if you are in the media, you are in the service of the Bahamian people who have every right to be informed about the affairs of their country, and that right must be uppermost."
Smith said it did not seem wise to "insulate" Dame Marguerite from the public and the media.
We agree.
We think it is unfortunate that these rules have been issued.
Click here to read more at The Nassau Guardian
