#IPIWoCo2012 #FrankLaRue politicians get dizzy when they get into power. there must be public opinion – public input.

#IPIWoCo2012 #PansyTlakula Special Rapporteur on Free Expression says there are may laws affecting freedom of expression in Africa

#IPIWoCO2012 #FrankLaRue: government have a tendency to use technology to silence media.

#IPIWoCo2012 #CatalinaBotero advocating for violation against journalists to be taking to the International office of Human Rights.

IPI World Congress Trinidad

The 1st Round Table Discussion on Freedom of Expression has ended following the delivery of thought-provoking points by the panelists: Catalina Botero, OAS Special Rapporteur on Freedom of Expression; Frank LaRue UN Special Rapporteur on Freedom of Expression; Dunja Mijatovic, OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media; and Pansy Tlakula, Special Rapporteur on Freedom of Expression and Access to Information, ACHPR.

72 journalists have died so far this year…

72 journalists have died so far this year because of their work. 22 of the journalists killed so fare have been in Asia.

Allison Bethel Mc Kenzie addressing the IPI Congress…

Allison Bethel Mc Kenzie addressing the IPI Congress. Bethel Mc Kenzie is the IPI Executive Director

IPI and Local organising committee of the Conference…

IPI and Local organising committee of the Conference presents token of appreciation to President of Trinidad and Tobago Professor Maxwell Richards.

Internet the 5th Estate cannot replace the mainstream…

Internet, the 5th Estate cannot replace the mainstream media says Prof. Richards. It is to be seen as an instrument which can facilitate journalists and mainstream media.

It is unfair to continually blame the news…

It is unfair to continually blame the news for reporting or not reporting on issues that the public wants.

News is not a free service but it must serve the public, says Prof. Richards

Professor Richards has suggested that the time may have come for an international immunity to be agreed to, so that the risks to journalists could be minimized or irradicated.

“Journalism is no walk in the park….reports of journalists killed….give no comfort whatsoever.” Prof. Maxwell Richards

Prof. Richards encourages journalists to look at the similarities between themselves and diplomats, but does not encourage compromise in their work.

I therefore ask myself that where journalist ever describe themselves as diplomats.

Prof. Maxwell Richards

“Perhaps after this congress, we (the Caribbean) may be better known and better reported on,” Professor Maxwell Richards at the opening of the IPI World Congress at the Hyatt Resort in Trinidad and Tobago.

Welcomes the delegates with a warning, “We are irresistible.” Prof. Maxwell Richards

Professor Maxwell Richards to be the Keynote speaker at the Opening Ceremony of the IPI World Congress currently underway at the Hyatt in Trinidad and Tobago.

Dawn Thomas Head of the OCM addressing the opening ceremony of the conference.

The task of journalism is reassembling the shards….we should not ignore the tasks….”So great is our task delegates, so great are the potential rewards.”

President of the Association of Caribbean MediaWorkers (ACM), Wesley Gibbings giving brief remarks.

Opening of the IPI World Congress in Trinidad & Tobago…attended by over 200 delegates world wide.

The Prime Minister’s National Address this evening lasted 4:mins 58secs.

Prime Minister Thomas says NDC will hold a thanksgiving rally at Grenville Car Park on Sunday – That was the special announcement. He has invited everyone to attend.

Prime Minister Thomas has assumed the portfolio of Foreign Affairs Minister.

Prime Minister Thomas is reassuring the people of Grenada that he is dedicated to the task of building Grenada

“Cabinet had become an exercise in hypocrisy…”

Karl Hood

PM Tillman Thomas to address the nation tonight

PM Thomas to address the nation tonight and will announce “a special event for Sunday, May 20th, 2012”.

It Is Official: Karl Hood Has Resigned

The Office of the Prime Minister has confirmed receiving the resignation from Foreign Minister Karl Hood. A release issued today says the resignation was accepted.

Coverage of debate on NO Confidence Motion by opposition Leader Dr. Keith Mitchell has ended

Thank you for your interest in all that was posted at this live blog site regarding the no confidence motion. Though coverage has officially ended. Feel free to engage in discussions on the bits and pieces posted here.
Thank you!

Karl Hood, MP for St. George South East, Abstained.

Glynnis Roberts, MP St.George South was absent from the Parliament. She attended the sessions in the afternoon for a brief moment and then left.

The following are the MPs who voted against the motion of No Confidence: Tillman Thomas, Prime Minister and MP for St. Patrick East; Nazim Burke, Finance Minister & MP for St. George North East; Peter David, MP Town of St. George; Michael Lett; MP for St. David; Sylvester Quarless, MP for St. Andrew South West; Patrick Simmons, MP for St. Andrew South East; Joseph Gilbert, MP for St. Patrick West.

The following are the MPs who voted for the Motion of No Confidence: Michael Church, MP for St. John; Dr. Keith Mitchell, Opposition Leader and MP for St. George North West; Roland Bhola, MP for ST. Andrew North West; Clarice Modeste Curwen, MP for St. Mark; Elvin Nimrod, MP for Carriacou and Petit Martinique.

Due to the lateness of the time, the House has been adjourned, without discussions or reading on any bills.

Five members voted for the Motion of No Confidence; 8 voted against it; one member abstained; one member was absent from the Parliament.

Tillman Thomas has survived the No Confidence Motion.

I want to commend all of you for the positions that you’ve taken.

House Speaker George Mc Guire

Speaker of the house said he felt uncomfortable listening to members reveal their thoughts their feelings their passions…

House Speaker George Mc Guire

The content of the debate in the House is more important than the outcome of the motion.

Keith Mitchell

Mitchell says he hopes that at the end of the day he hopes the members of the House vote according to their conscience.

The debate is now into it’s 13th hour.

Mitchell says he is baffled by the decision of MP Peter David not to support the No Confidence Motion. “you can’t be evil yet backing good.”

Keith Mitchell commended Michael Church for the type of presentation he made to Parliament today under this debate. He describes it as a “telling presentation”

Opposition Leader Keith Mitchell accuses the current administration of corruption…he said US $150,000 went into the account of a senior government official just over two weeks ago and that individual when asked, claimed it was for legal fees.

Citation

I have a record that very few people would surpass…Prime Minister for four years…”

Keith Mitchell

“governments make mistakes, with good intentions.”

Keith MItchell

Mitchell says the history he heard from the member (Patrick Simmons) was inaccurate.

Mitchell takes offence with what Simmons said earlier today. He refutes the claims made by Simmons that he (Mitchell) told former Prime Minister Herbert Blaize that he will not run the same platform with him.

Dr. Keith Mitchell is rebutting the presentations on the motion…he said he wants to address some inaccuracies.

By bringing this motion the Opposition..fulfilled its promise to the people to defend their rights…thee people will now see who stand on their side and who stand against them.

Elvin Nimrod

If the allegations made against the Hon Prime Minister here this evening is true…I don’t think the Prime Minister has the moral authority to continue to lead this country.

Elvin Nimrod

Calling on the government to make sure that people get the right to register and also Mr. Speaker to make it as easy as possible especially those persons…who are shut-ins are immobilized.

Elvin Nimrod

The economy is now in shambles…challenges from within your own government…I think those are enough for our honorable Prime Minister to call it a day.

Elvin Nimrod

“Whether or not this motion passes today, the reputation of the Prime Minister has been sufficiently damaged…I do not see how the Prime Minister could continue to rule this nation…”

Elvin Nimrod

“If you have done so much, if you have achieved so much, why are you afraid to go back to the people?”

Elvin Nimrod

For almost four years our honorable Prime Minister has been running this country from through the rear view mirror…and now he’s about to crash.”

Elvin Nimrod

Nimrod: “We can’t condemn the Prime Minister yesterday and today approve him with no change…it’s a sign of hypocrisy.”

Nimrod accusing the NDC government of not giving jobs to people they believe are friendly with the NNP.

after debating the motion for over 11 hours, the 300+ persons who came to the Parliament today have dwindled down to 40.

“All of this propaganda and this deceit have come back to play a role in this motion here,” said Elvin Nimrod.

Elvin Nimrod: The NDC government have not lived up to their campaign promises of 2008.

Elvin Nimrod: NDC accused NNP of corruption but after 4yrs in office, they have found no evidence.

House Resumes and Hon. Elvin Nimrod, Parliamentary Representative for Carriacou and Petit Martinique is making his contribution to the motion.

It is almost 10-hours since the motion is being debated…speaker is suggesting a suspended sitting…House will adjourn for 10-mins.

Modeste Curwen says she has no gripe with Tillman Thomas as a persom but she has a problem with his conduct as Prime Minister. She called on him to listen to the people around him…what they are saying is important…not just the small few who are supporting him in his ways.

Modeste Curwen says the burning issues of how people are affected are not making the news headlines.

Grenada needs a government that has the ability to hold its members to do projects and develop the country, according to Modeste-Curwen

Modeste Curwen want to how why some of the projects air-marked for St. Mark’s did not materialize…she’s calling on him to be transparent.

Claris Modeste Curwen: the attempting to fix the problem is like trying to mix oil and water. The NNP does not believe that they can fix their own internal problems.

Prime Minister Thomas, refutes the motion….Hon Claris Modeste Curwen is not making her contribution. Modeste Curwen is the Parliamentary Representative for St. Marks.

Expects more employment and more economic activities as they get some projects started.

“We have been given a mandate and we are carrying out that mandate…we would have like to see more people employed…we are doing our best…” says Tillman Thomas

I will never do anything for political expediency.

Tillman Thomas

Tillman Thomas: NDC is committed to the economic development of this country.

“I am prepared to fight deceptive politics. I fought you (Keith Mitchell) before and I’ll fight you again.”

Tillman Thomas

“We would never encourage or appoint suspicious people as our ambassadors,” said Prime Minister Tillman Thomas. HE was taking a swipe of the NNP party as during their administration, at least two of the persons they appointed as ambassadors were jailed in fraud related activities.

“We are victims of our own transparency,” says Prime Minister Tillman Thomas on the issue of the infighting in the party being public.

All our programs are geared to improving the quality of life for our people.

Tillman Thomas

Tillman Thomas: to say that he makes decisions on his own is a total misrepresentation of the issue. He says Michael church was going over board to describe him as being autocratic.

Tillman Thomas: his statements on forces of Good and Evil were taken out of context…he said he was talking about it in a broad context of Biblical references to world affairs

Prime Minister Thomas is making his contribution to the debate.

Nazim Burke has finished his presentation and rejects the motion of NO Confidence.

Nazim Burke stands by the character of the Prime Minister…he says he admires him.

Every reasonable person believes in accountability and transparency.

Nazim Burke

Burke says he does not believe in making public statements again anyone and will not do that.

He says PM Thomas is the opposite of a corrupt charismatic dictator.

Nazim Burke: “DO not dwell on the weaknesses of people…protect yourself from their weaknesses…and harness yourself to get the results that you want.”

“I believe that inspite of the challenges we all have to work to make this thing happen…leadership is not a position…it is character trait,” says Nazim Burke

Nazim Burke: too much of the infighting is happening in the public…NDC should take a page from the NNP and keep their infighting on the inside.

The fact that we have been able to do the things that we have been able to do, even in the face of the differences in the party, must tell you what this government is capable of doing…imagine what would happen when there is no crisis and the party sorts itself out.

Nazim Burke

Do not ask the members on this side to shoot themselves in the foot. The members on this side are in the government….we are doing what we believe is in the best interest of the people…do not suggest to us that what is going on here is some sort of infighting.

Nazim Burke

we are not trying to pretend, we understand it is a very difficult time and if the government can do more we will do more.

Nazim Burke

Nazim Burke: “The idea that this government is mismanaging this economy is a farce.”

Nazim Burke: making a case for no confidence in the NNP party based on the allegations of corruption that follow its 13-year reign. Burke says he’s convinced the Grenadian people do not want the NNP administration back

Nazim Burke: NDC government inherited a country overwhelmed by social and economic mismanagement…we stand by that statement,

Nazim Burke: “The record so far indicates the NDC is the better part for Grenada.”

Nazim Burke: the challenges of the government and the party are not new to any party…It happens to all. the fact that the NDC is having internal differences, in not a reason to attempt to change them.

“The opposition motion is opportunistic…it sees an opportunity to go for the kill and it wants the kill” Nazim Burke said.

Nazim Burke: “I will not associate myself with this motion under any circumstance.”

Prime Minister Tillman Thomas rises to speak and then sits down. Now Finance Minister Nazim Burke rises to speak.

Will oppose the motion but will, within he party initiate a process to examine the way forward for the party.

“Power resides in the people who have placed us here,” said Peter David.” I cannot support this motion”

Peter David: There is merit in the position but there is no merit in the motion…believes in the strength of the party to handle anything that is thrown at it…believes the party is resilient.

Peter David: proposes that they hear first from the members of the party…whether there is a need to remove the PM as head. Believes this motion is not the preferred root to solving any real or perceived problems of the government or party.

Peter David: I will not support a motion brought by the opposition that seeks to dispose judgement on the leader by the hands of 15 people.

Peter David: Understands why the opposition brought the vote of No Confidence Motion. He said he may have done the same thing if he was in opposition.

Peter David: “I have demonstrated by resigning from the cabinet how strong and firm my resolve is…..”

Peter david: Still confident that what he did was the right thing to do. Has been vilified by NDC colleagues because he spoke out against the PM’s inability to embrace other ideas of his cabinet members.

David asks for permission to read his speech because as he says he “does not want to be misquoted by the media”.

Quarless: yet to say where he will vote…just ended his presentation.

Peter David rises to make his contribution.

“Leader of the Opposition fired a bullet across the bow, trying to hit a target,…like the target is very illusive!” Sylvester Quarless

Quarless: about 7 persons in his constituency are vying for his position as ‘caretaker’ for the Constituency.

Quarless: “Pappa (in reference to Dr. Mitchell) You should keep quiet, let us resolve our problems ourselves.”

Quarless: the Motion is missing something…it asks that the MPs support a motion of no confidence in the PM but it doesn’t give a suggested replacement for him.

Sylvester Quarless, MP for St. Andrew’s South West.

God will judge whether MPs have made prudent decisions – whether they vote for or against the motion, Bhola said.

“We must all be prepared to use our experiences…let them help us to make prudent decisions.” Roland Bhola

Bhola questions how the MPs who have openly spoken out against their government could vote for it now.

“I hope that persons would search their conscience and recognise that this motion has very little to do with NDC as a party but it is about the…destruction of a generation….the younger ones who have lost the spark in their eyes…”

Bhola surprised and worried that the Prime Minister who speaks of good and evil elements in his government,…this principled individual, how would he feel now wanting these same persons to vote for him today.

Both Dr. Mitchell and Bhola have made references to the Prime Minister’s claims that he is fighting ‘leftist’ and ‘evil’ elements in his party/government.

Bhola: The opposition does not deny that things are hard but they concede that the hardships in Grenada speaks directly to the poor management of this government.

Bhola: Opposition upholds the rule of law and that’s why they took the matter to Parliament instead of to the streets.

MP for St. George South, Glynnis Roberts has just walked into Parliament, having missed the morning’s proceedings. Roberts buried her husband of over 2 decades yesterday. He died after a prolonged period of illness.

Four government MPs just walked back into the Parliament that looks like they are returning from a caucus. They were Peter David, Ayllene Walker, Michael Church and Quarless Sylvester.

For the No Confidence Motion to stand, they need to have an additional 4-votes from the government’s side.

So far, they have one vote and one abstinence.

Bhola says this motion has nothing to do with an opposition quest for power

Opposition member for St. Andrew’s North East Hon. Roland Bhola is now on the floor.

Karl Hood seems to have evidently abstained from voting….He said he will go by the maxim that if you have nothing good to say about some one then say nothing, so in dramatic fashion, he stands and says nothing for approximately 20 seconds and then sits down.

Karl Hood: says he will not support the party blindly neither will he openly support the motion…he says he wants to take a step back. “If you do not have something good to say about some one else “keep your mouth shut.”

Karl Hood: says he didn’t ask to get into politics…he said he was pursued and after being begged repeatedly, he agreed. He said he was supposed to be the sacrificial lamb, meaning that he was not supposed to win his seat, but with the help of God, he did.

Foreign Affairs Minister Karl Hood is on the floor. Hood is remembered in the House for his unprecedented performance at the 2012 budget debate, where he opposed the budget and publicly decried his government.

Church’s support of the No Confidence Motion resulted in the public gallery erupting in an applause, prompting the Speaker of the House George Mc Guire to remind the public that no clapping is allowed in the house.

Michael Church submits: the intransigence of the Prime Minister that would destroy the government. Michael Church supports the motion of No Confidence

Michael Church summises:The Prime Minister in practice has not promoted fairness and equality in his cabinet and has applied autocratic rule in decision making. He has consistently shown unwillingness to oversee economic policies that should deliver growth in this country.

Michael Church is blaming the PM for the disunity in the government and party, adding that the PM doesn’t take too kindly to dissenting views in the the Cabinet.

Michael Church: Government has, through its actions not shown that it understands the needs of the ordinary people.

Michael Church says the NDC government’s under-performance was noticeable and disappointing.

“Whatever the conclusion, there are only two options…we can choose to be different….or we can go to the cross, endure the crucifixion…the first option is not a viable option.” Michael Church

Michael Church: “We must not depart this House today being accused of burying our heads in the sand when confronted by political perils.”

Church is accusing the Prime MInister has not made any serious effort to encourage harmony in his government.

He says he will be brutally protective of this nation which educated him.

Church says he’ll speak candidly without bias or affection for any one political party.

Church says information Minister Glen Noel has contributed to the current instability of the country and he’s allowed to do those things.

This parliamentary debate is a test of the maturity of Grenada’s democracy.

Church says the actions taken against him were draconian and brutal.

Lett is finished speaking and has said he will not support the motion.

Michael Church is on the floor now.

Michael Lett: efforts or under way to revive the spices in Grenada…

“with all the efforts being made by this government to revive the agriculture industry, could I then turn around and support a motion to bring sown this government?” Lett asked the Parliament.

The sitting of Parliament has resumed and the debate on the no confidence motion filed by opposition leader Dr. Keith Mitchell continues.

Agriculture Minister Denis Michael Lett is on the floor.

He is currently presenting on efforts to revive the ailing agriculture industry in Grenada.

Patrick Simmons has ended his presentation….Parliament has been adjourned until 2:15

Simmons declaration was met with applause by the members of the public sitting in the gazebo…” I stand with the hope that every one on the said here will vote with their conscience.” Patrick Simmons

“Even though ah playing, ah looking at the next match…there must be consultation first, and I must be clear in my mind too, who is the captain.”
I cannot stand here today and support that motion. I believe the government must be given a chance to fulfill it’s mandate by the people.” Patrick Simmons

“Not only ah playing… ah playing to the best of my ability…the resason why I still playing is because I made a commitment. I;ve given an oath…I’m forever committed to the oath, and I’m going to play until the game is over.” Patrick simmons