The president of NAPE is calling out premier Tony Wakeham for what is being called his “dismissive attitude” towards accountability and the free press.
Jerry Earle was responding to the situation that unfolded in the House of Assembly last week.
Minister Andrea Barbour (VOCM News)
After accusing the media of “twisting the narrative,” environment minister Andrea Barbour was unavailable to answer questions from reporters about her statements on Wednesday, and had been unavailable for other requests since the House opened. She finally spoke with media on Thursday afternoon.
Premier Tony Wakeham
Wakeham defended his minister, stating that he and his cabinet ministers are available “any time” to media “when (they) have something to tell them.”
Earle says that when people that hold positions of power “disparage” journalism and reporting it doesn’t just hurt the media, it “damages our democracy.”
Earle says accountability means government should speak when people have questions, not just when they have something to say.
He says the PC government has been in power for one year, and they should understand that media and unions are going to ask tough questions and are not going to “wait” to be told things.
