The Office of the Prime Minister (OPM) on Wednesday described as “misleading and erroneous” an article by a local publication that Prime Minister Godwin Friday was no longer performing some of his duties.
OPM did not identify the publication or the article by name.
However, all indications are that it was a St. Vincent Times article, claiming that Deputy Prime Minister St. Clair Leacock had taken over a “slew” of Friday’s portfolios, effective July 5.
“… the Office of the Prime Minister advises that Prime Minister Hon. Dr Godwin Friday is currently performing the full duties and responsibilities of the Office of the Prime Minister and all ministerial portfolios assigned to him,” the press release said.
It noted that the OPM’s functions are delegated only when the prime minister is out of state.
“On those occasions, Deputy Prime Minister Hon. Major St. Clair Leacock has exercised the functions of the Prime Minister in an acting capacity,” the statement said, adding that Daniel Cummings, the minister of health, has acted as prime minister when both Friday and Leacock are overseas.
“The Prime Minister is currently in St. Vincent and the Grenadines and continues to perform the full functions of his Office.”
The St. Vincent Times “breaking news” article cited July 5 as the date when Leacock took over the PM’s portfolios.
During that period, Friday was in St. Lucia, attending the CARICOM heads of government meeting, which ran from July 5 to 8, and Leacock acted as prime minister.
One commentator told iWitness News that the article, and the seeming lack of understanding of government that it demonstrates, is a stain on journalism in St. Vincent and the Grenadines.
“The St. Vincent Times article demonstrates a shocking lack of understanding of the functioning of government that is totally unacceptable for an entity purporting to inform the public.”