Media Awards 2018

Gina Morley Dies

Gina Morley

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

May 5, 2018

 Press Club saddened over death of its member Gina Morley

NASSAU, The Bahamas – President of The Bahamas Press Club 2014 Anthony Capron said it is with profound sadness, the organization notes the passing of Gina Morley, a faithful member and colleague. She died on Thursday, May 3, 2018.

Ms Morley was a former journalist who became an attorney and hosted the genealogy programme “Bahamian Bio” on Sunday nights at 7pm, and the “It’s The Law” legal tips, which aired at various times during the weekday lineup on Guardian Radio.

“Ms Morley was a valued member of The Bahamas Press Club, who contributed much to the progress of the BPC and her sage advice will be sorely missed, especially as we plan this year’s media awards,” said Mr. Capron

Ms Morley was responsible for the 2017 Media Awards’ theme: “Uncovering The Bahamas”, held at the British Colonial Hilton, at which she proudly displayed some of her creative artwork.

“Our heartfelt condolences go out to her immediate family. May her soul rest in eternal peace,” Mr. Capron said.

_____________________________________   

For further information contact: Secretary Lindsay Thompson at (242) 434-5643. Email:thebahamaspressclub@gmail.com.

Website: www.bahamaspressclub.org

World Press Freedom Day

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

May 3, 2018

Bahamas Press Club Abhors Media Attacks

World Press Freedom Day

Anthony Capron, BPC President

NASSAU, The Bahamas - On this World Press Freedom Day 2018, The Bahamas Press Club 2014, salutes the democracy enjoyed by the Bahamian media.

“We recognize that press freedom is not a fundamental right in all nations of the world, and we vehemently abhor attacks on media independence,” said Press Club President Anthony Capron.

In this regard, we salute the 2018 theme “Keeping Power in Check: Media, Justice and the Rule of Law,” Capron said.

“We, therefore, join United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres in calling on governments to “strengthen press freedom and to protect journalists. Promoting a free press is standing up for our right to truth.”

According to a report, Freedom of the Press 2017, it is recognized that 45 percent of the world’s population live in countries where press freedom is non-existent. Forty-two percent can claim a partly free press, and only 13 percent enjoys a free press.

“I am happy to say that The Bahamas is in the sphere of that 13 percent. However, we must push to ensure the movement towards press freedom in all those other countries, especially where there is no independent judiciary to ensure legal guarantees for press freedom and prosecution of crimes against journalists,” Capron said.

The United Nations General Assembly declared May 3 to be World Press Freedom Day or just World Press Day to raise awareness of the importance of freedom of the press and remind governments of their duty to respect and uphold the right to freedom of expression enshrined under Article 19 of the 1948 Universal Declaration of Human Rights and marking the anniversary of the Windhoek Declaration, a statement of free press principles put together by African newspaper journalists in Windhoek in 1991.

-30-

For further information contact: Secretary Lindsay Thompson at (242) 434-5643. Email:thebahamaspressclub@gmail.com.

Website: www.bahamaspressclub.org

Speakers' Corner on Marital Rape - Jan. 30, 2018

ACP Council Takes Key Positions on Migration, Trade, ACP-EU Relations

ACP COUNCIL TAKES KEY POSITIONS ON MIGRATION, TRADE, ACP-EU RELATIONS

Brussels, 10 December 2017/ ACP: Decision-makers of the African, Caribbean and Pacific Group of States approved key policy and administrative actions for the organisation, while also taking a stand on major issues affecting ACP countries.

The 106th session of the ACP Council of Ministers was held on the 4th to 6th of December at the ACP headquarters in Brussels, chaired by the Minister of Trade, Industry, Informal Sector and SMEs of the Republic of Senegal H.E. Mr. Alioune Sarr. The Council of Ministers took 16 Decisions, passed five Resolutions and made one Declaration, including the approval of the Secretariat’s work programme and budget for 2018.

Post-Cotonou Negotiations

The Council of Ministers instructed the Committee of Ambassadors to take several steps in preparation for upcoming negotiations with the EU for a renewed ACP-EU partnership agreement. These include elaborating the core guiding principles for negotiation, engaging with regional and continental organisations to consider regional specificities, conducting a comprehensive analysis of the EU’s preferred scenario for post-Cotonou ACP-EU relations, and completing outstanding studies related to the negotiations.

Ministers also agreed to convene a special session of Council dedicated to Post-Cotonou negotiations on 27th May 2018, preceding the 107th meeting of the Council of Ministers to be held in Lomé, Togo.

EU list of non-cooperative tax jurisdictions

The Council of Ministers passed a resolution strongly condemning the unilateral and discriminatory practices of the EU in publishing a list of “non-cooperative tax jurisdictions”, which includes eight ACP states, despite these countries being compliant or largely compliant with the standards set by the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) - the international body recognised for setting norms and standards on tax cooperation at the international level.

The Council noted that the ACP countries blacklisted are mostly small, developing states with vulnerable economies, which will suffer further negative economic impact and extensive reputational damage from the EU’s unilateral actions, which go against the spirit of partnership enshrined in the ACP-EU Cotonou Agreement and undermines the trust and confidence leading up to Post-2020 negotiations. The Council demanded that the EU enter into dialogue with the ACP to resolve this matter.

Sale of African migrants in Libya

In a strongly worded declaration, the ACP Council of Ministers unanimously condemned the inhumane auctioning of migrants in Libya, which has been documented in the media. Denouncing these actions as “despicable acts of slavery” amounting to crimes against humanity, the Council called on the cooperating development partners to take a holistic and development approach in addressing the challenges of migration, including effective means of countering human trafficking and smuggling of migrants.

The Council commended the Libyan authorities for their immediate response in investigating these heinous acts, as well as the swift engagement of the African Union. The Council of Ministers requested the Government of Libya to provide all necessary assistance to ensure the full respect of the rights of migrants and refugees.

Resolutions on situations in Guyana, Belize, Cuba

The Council of Ministers adopted resolutions in full support of the territorial integrity and sovereignty of ACP member states, urging just and peaceful resolutions of territorial disputes between Guyana and Venezuela, as well as Belize and Guatemala. The Council also expressed its full support and solidarity with Cuba in its fight against the economic, commercial and financial blockade and extra-territorial measures imposed by the United States.

Enhancing trade among ACP countries

Several decisions were taken on trade, including a commitment to enhance intra-ACP trade and economic relations by setting up an ACP-wide trade information portal for ACP individuals and businesses in search of information on manufactured products, commodities, services, investment opportunities and best practices. Ministers also endorsed an incremental approach to intra-ACP trade, targeting areas that could being immediate benefits such as dealing with non-tariff measures and trade facilitation.

To tackle non-tariff measures set by the EU that impede, the Council of Ministers mandated the establishment of a new programme to support ACP states to cope with the myriad of SPS (Sanitary & Phyto-Sanitary), TBT (Technical Barriers to Trade) and other challenges related to exporting to the EU market.

The Council of Ministers also passed a resolution welcoming progress towards the implementation of the ACP’s “New Approach” to commodities, which focuses on transforming ACP commodities by enabling integration into regional and global value chains. The Council urged the expeditious completion of a new programme on value chains that will provide support to sectors such as cotton, sugar, banana, cocoa, kava, fisheries and rum.

Post-2020 ACP-EU trade

Looking towards trade with the European Union after the current ACP-EU Partnership Agreement expires in 2020, the Council of Ministers welcomed the EU’s assurance that trade and development cooperation will continue to play a key role in future relations, including Aid for Trade. The Council acknowledged that the cornerstone of future ACP-EU trade relations will likely be the reciprocal but asymmetric Economic Partnership Agreements (EPAs), for export growth and diversification. However, ministers underscored the need for the future partnership framework to allow discourse on cross-cutting issues under EPAs as well as bilateral and multilateral trade.

Budget 2018

The Council of Ministers approved the budget of the ACP Secretariat, to the tune of €15,798,678 for the 2018 financial year. A revised scale of contributions for ACP Member States was also approved, with effect from 1 January 2019.

Next Council session

The 107th session of the ACP Council of Ministers will be held in Lomé, Togo, to be followed immediately by the 42nd session of the Joint ACP-EU Council of Ministers (28 May – 1 June 2018).

For more information, please contact:

Josephine Latu-Sanft, ACP Press Office
Ave. Georges Henri 451, 1200 Brussels
latu@acp.int; +32 2 743 0617

Visit our website www.acp.int or follow us on Twitter @PressACP

Thurston Responds to PM's Critical Remarks

BY GLADSTONE THURSTON

PRESS INTIMIDATION?

Prime Minister Dr Hubert Minnis, in his address at the Bahamas Press Club’s awards banquet, came across as rather presumptuous.

Here is a man with less than zero experience in journalism telling experienced journalists how to practice their profession.

It is akin to me, having absolutely no knowledge of medicine, lecturing him, a gynecologist, on how to perform a caesarean section.

When I was given the mic, I was tempted to remind him that talking fool is a very serious thing.

Members of the press ought rightfully to have felt insulted by the Prime Minister’s remarks.

In effect, he told us we were failures at our profession, especially for not supporting his pet projects, like his attempt to have citizenship bestowed outside the provisions of the Constitution.

To regurgitate the prime minister’s insane attempt at rank intimidation is to yuck up my vexation. You could read it in mainstream.

Suffice to say, the prime minister’s remarks only made what I had to say all the more pertinent.

The press is a pillar of strength for democracy in our Bahamas, I said.

At no other time in our Bahamaland, post Independence is the role of the press more crucial.

With such a runaway victory at the polls by the FNM, and human nature being what it is, it falls on the shoulders of the press to hold the government true to the national cause.

During the glory days of the Pindling administration, the FNM oftentimes reminded that power corrupts and that absolute power corrupts absolutely.

We must ensure that that does not become a self-fulfilling prophecy for the FNM.

More than just regurgitating press statements, we must go behind the scenes and investigate from top to bottom without fear or favor, leaving no stone unturned in pursuit of the truth.

We cannot leave such vitally important processes to the much-discredited PLP, which has been fated with the important role of the Official Opposition.

The PLP, in its present state, is so utterly discredited, Bahamians do not have sufficient confidence in them for them to properly be seen to be performing the important role of Her Majesty’s Loyal Opposition.

This could have been a golden opportunity for the DNA to prove its devotion to the national cause.

Alas, the couple of press statements I read coming from the DNA shows it to be merely reactionary.

They have taken the easy path most trodden – government bashing.

And, since a strong Opposition is cornerstone to a transparent and productive government, the press must see to it that advantage is not taken of the naïve Bahamians who so overwhelmingly put their trust in the FNM.

We must ask the hard questions and demand the right answers. Report with neutrality and impartiality. Let the chips fall where they may. Investigate from top to bottom and back. Take nobody’s word for it.

We must be in a position to determine when the government moves from being a solution to the problems facing the nation, to itself being a part of the problem.

And since the press is the watchdog of the nation’s affairs, Bahamians must co-operate with the press. Report to them everything.

And, my colleagues, I urge you: cultivate sobriety, and most of all be vigilant.

I thank you.

Veteran Bahamian journalist Gladstone Thurston

Press Club President Responds to PM's Remarks about Media

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

November 21, 2017

Press Club President responds to PM's remarks about media

NASSAU, The Bahamas – President of The Bahamas Press Club 2014, Anthony Capron has responded to remarks made by Dr the Hon Hubert A Minnis, Prime Minister, during his Keynote address at The Bahamas Press Club Awards on Saturday, November 18, 2017.

The Prime Minister seemingly bashed the media and suggested what they should be reporting on, instead of critcizing him and his Government.

“I would say that the Prime Minister was perhaps misguided in the opinions he expressed about the media and the hard-working professional men and women who daily gather the news from every corner of this archipelago,” Mr. Capron said.

But that is exactly why The Bahamas Press Club has instituted the annual media awards, he noted.

“Because you always hear the press being bashed for what it is not doing. The good goes unspoken, unrecognized and unappreciated by the critics.

“And so, we cannot and will not be put off by the bad mouthing that will come our way. We have a job to do and we will do our job.”

For more information contact: Lindsay Thompson, Secretary, The Bahamas Press Club 2014 at: (242) 434-5643. Or (242) 557-0862. Facebook: The Bahamas Press Club 2014. Website: bahamaspressclub.org