PM Skerrit attacking Dominica’s media, saying it goes to the gutters and garbage bin for negative stories

​Prime Minister Skerrit is again attacking the media in Dominica. He claims that it goes to the gutters and garbage bin, to find negative stories about the country. He made that comment after a contract signing on Friday, for architectural designs of a National Multi-Sports Complex in Dominica.
 
Skerrit said, “I just find in this country, we go in the gutters and we go in the garbage bins looking for negative stories about Dominica, and unless we cannot find one, we don’t want to print our newspaper or we don’t want to go with our newscast”.
 
He was speaking against the background of a story in the local Sun Newspaper, which is said to have alleged that the government of Dominica owes the Organization of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS) Supreme Court about $8Million.
 
Skerrit appeared to be displeased with the article. He said it was a ‘total and a complete lie.’ He said government owed the Supreme Court ‘over $7Million or so, but a significant amount of that sum has been paid, and Dominica is now owing $4.4Million, which will be included in this year’s budget & paid by the end of 2017.
 
According to Skerrit, in some countries there is an understanding among journalists and the State, that “salacious and negative stories” never appear on the front or back pages of newspapers. He said, “I don’t want to call countries here, but we all know the countries …. We go to these countries and we feel that there is no crime, because never will you see reporting of any crime on the front page or the second page or the back page or the headline news”.
 
He stated that there should be a greater sense of nationalist spirit and commitment to Dominica. He added that he has no problem with people criticizing government; but it appears that he wants this to be done in a certain manner. He described the matter as very serious, as negative news has the ability to undermine Dominica.
 
Meanwhile, Skerrit said he expects to see an apology and correction from The Sun Newspaper, when it goes to press on Monday.