Journalist Kenville Horne was on the receiving end of a rant by Prime Minister Dr. Ralph Gonsalves last Monday.
Horne, who has been a journalist for two years and is employed at The Vincentian newspaper arrived late at the Prime Minister’s press conference and asked a question about the July 11 arrest of opposition senator, Vynnette Frederick.
He told Gonsalves that people have been commenting about the manner in which the senator was arrested and asked if, as Minister of National Security, Gonsalves was briefed “within the whole development”.
Horne also noted that former attorney general Parnell R. Campbell, QC, had spoken out strongly about the arrest.
But Gonsalves responded by saying that he had addressed that issue before Horne arrived at the press conference.
Horne said that while he was late, he was following the press conference by radio.
Horne had begun to ask his second question when the Prime Minister repeated his allegation that Dr. Kenneth John defamed him in his column in The Vincentian newspaper of July 26.
Gonsalves said that he has said on radio more than once that that someone who telephoned him from overseas informed him of the arrest of the senator.
The Prime Minister said that at the time, he was hosting guests at his private home in Gorse, on the eastern side of St. Vincent.
He further accused the journalist of asking the question because the journalist “may have in in your head that I do it”.
“Well, write it,” the Prime Minister told the journalist
Horne attempted to respond, but Gonsalves interjected, and suggested that the journalist was repeating the allegation in the form of a question.
Gonsalves further spoke of mutual respect existing between him and the journalist but said if the journalist changes professions no one would remember him, but as Prime Minister, he has taken and oath and could be prosecuted.
Kenville Home , keep up the good work , we need good journalism and do not give into intimidation . Thanks for your reporting .
Keep up what good work? These journalists need to go to school again…They really need to lift their game. Their questions are usually too shallow.
The journalist did admit to listening to the press conference via radio. Didn’t he hear the PM’s comment regarding the matter? If so then why question the PM again? “Horne said that while he was late, he was following the press conference by radio.”….The PM should have put him on blast!
“Horne said that while he was late, he was following the press conference by radio.” Why ask the question again? It is fair to assume that he heard the PM addressing the issue….The PM was right to put him on blast….
How is that a rant? Do you know what a rant is? It was better you said a dunce journalist tried to act smart with the PM. All these stupid journalist continue, I hope you all have enough money to pay for your stupidity.
To all journalists in SVG who are not intimidated by the PM and his likes, keep up the good work…don’t give up or give in…the end of the tunnel soon come!
Its most probable that Gonsalves first answer was not good enough for this young man and he required further and better information.
Does Gonsalves really believe because he is PM he only needs to answer a question once, and then in the way that he would like to frame or answer it. I consider the PM’s behaviour arrogant and rude.
“Gonsalves further spoke of mutual respect existing between him and the journalist but said if the journalist changes professions no one would remember him, but as Prime Minister, he has taken and oath and could be prosecuted”.
What a disgustingly rude statement to make about a young man who is only doing his job. “no one would remember him” how arrogant and rude, how out of order and out of place, how disrespectful of a Vincentian citizen. I am sure if the young man had been as rude to Gonsalves he would be sued.
JASON, stop being a silly boy and grow up. Give some proper input instead of your silliness, stop hoping for a ambassadorial job abroad. Because regardless you have got to have brains, you have none. Jason I hope you are not implying that the freedom of the press is under attack by you.
Kenville may I apologise on the behalf of all decent Vincentian citizens for the way you were treated at the press conference, I also apologise for the silly comments that this article has attracted from the internets usual idiots, who just do not know right from wrong.
Good luck with your job for the future, I hope its safe after this matter.
It is apparent that the question was not dealt with in a way that was satisfactory to the young journalist. Those who listen to that press hugging knows that the question asks by the young journalist was never addressed. he said he dealt with it but not in the context of how it was ask by Mr. Horne. Vincentians are too apologetic to a PM who has totally lost it. The PM is too “outa place”. He beleives he can say whatever he wants about whoever he wants.
We are not born equal. We all do not posses equal amounts of intelligence. What is wrong if a “journalist” continues to make a perpetual ass of himself?
JOHN ALEXANDER, its you that is the ass, even an arse. You see when you say “We all do not posses equal amounts of intelligence” your quite right and that applies to you as well. Its very obvious that you are of substandard inteligence by all the silliness you bring to these comments. All the spite, malice and nastyness you try and introduce. Shows you to be a pratt collaborator of this very nasty Marxist regime.
You see Gonsalves is rude and out of order to most all journalists including our host, Kenton Chance.
I believe Gonsalves insults these people, calls them names and subjects them to gross disrespect, because he is a bully. I believe he is a bully, I really believe he is a bully.
But would he dare to behave so if he was not flanked by police protection, would he dare to do so if he wasn’t PM, is he not abusing his power in calling people nasty and disrespectful names.
He wants to shut the press up, he frightens them, bullies them, utters nastiness which he would not accept himself.
Recently he has put the frighteners on newspapers and journalists, threatening to sue them.
It really needs to stop, but it will not until we turf him out of power, its overdue for us to rid ourselves of this kind of behaviour.
In private life a few smacks in the gob, a few clouts, would certainly shut him up, now I am not suggesting anyone does that, the opposite, please do not do that. Just making a point in my belief that he is not just a bully but is also a coward.
I write this because its my true belief.
If the PM is to be replaced as Pater suggested, we run into one problem…
There is no better party, government or person to be Prime Minister.
Does Peter have any suggestions?
We need to be fair here.A journalist has a right to ask any question for matters of clarification. Don’t be intimidated by brother. Press on.
Why didn’t Gonsalves tell the BBC journalist no one would remember him? I am sure plenty will!
Peter, of all people, I just KNOW that you would understand.
After all, YOU are an Alexander too.
Now if one looks at this objectively a few things stand out. First, if the journalist was following via radio, it is unlikely that the question he asked was addressed earlier. There are times when similar questions are asked for follow up or clarity, which I interpret to be the case here. Saying that you were first informed of the situation through a call from an overseas friend does not indicate whether or not you got briefed about the situation after that call does it?
Second, accusing (or implying) the journalist of having it in his mind that he ‘did it’ and telling him to ‘write it’s as a very unprofessional direction to head down.
Third, I interpret the statement that no one would remember the journalist as uncalled for and in poor taste.
In my opinion the situation could have been handled in a much better way. Saying ‘I have addressed that issue before and would not entertain anymore questions on it’ would have been a more tasteful approach.
Yes, our politicians in St Vincent leave much to be desired.
They disrespect the Speaker of the House. They come into the House with their classic Bad-Manism. They spend money allocated for the Research Officer on unallocated items. They say that their Constituency Office is located in their Political Party’s Head Office. They lie and lie, and lie, like it is nobody’s business regarding everything under the sun. Then they lie some more.
And we expect better from them!
so wat is d american gov trying 2 do wit d wikileak whistle blower? d PM only doing wat most leaders wud do, shut down idiots who chat crap and focus on d objective ones..simples!!!I’m sure our PM aint no saint, but name one PM whos is?
TO PETER: I ask one question, and one question only. “Which political party do you support?”
Peter, when you answer that question, honestly, TO YOURSELF, you would understand exactly why, for partisan political reasons you are continuously opposing the Prime Minister, even on trivialities.
Thanks for the support folks. i will tell you this, am not intimidated or deterred by the PM’s responds, i was simply asking a question as any journalist would. The question i asked with regards to PR Campbell comment on the manner in which Senator Vynnette Frederick was re-arrest was never addressed during the press conference hosted by the Prime Minister. now, how do i become a dunce or an idiot journalist by asking the Prime Minister to comment on the issue. Jano commented ” It is fair to assume that he heard the PM addressing the issue. why didn’t you try to find out if the PM indeed address the issue, before you made this comment “The PM should have put him on blast!”?. you see we must be fair and balance in our thoughts. Darrien was more sensible and reasonable when he said “Now if one looks at this objectively a few things stand out. First, if the journalist was following via radio, it is unlikely that the question he asked was addressed earlier. There are times when similar questions are asked for follow up or clarity, which I interpret to be the case here. Saying that you were first informed of the situation through a call from an overseas friend does not indicate whether or not you got briefed about the situation after that call does it?
Second, accusing (or implying) the journalist of having it in his mind that he did it and telling him to write its as a very unprofessional direction to head down.
Third, I interpret the statement that no one would remember the journalist as uncalled for and in poor taste.
In my opinion the situation could have been handled in a much better way.
Saying I have addressed that issue before and would not entertain anymore questions on it would have been a more tasteful approach”.
i am not better than any one, neither is anyone better than me. just doing my work in the interest of everyone, without fear or favor.