Press Freedom takes a dive in OECS; Region drops to 50 from 35, says RSF

The countries making up the Organisation of Eastern States (OECS) are among the worst nations for freedom of the press, according to the latest report by Reporters Without Borders (RSF).

Ranked 35 in the list of 180 nations in 2018, the OECS has plummeted 15 points and is ranked at 50 in the advocacy group’s 2019 World Press Freedom Index, according to the latest report by Reporters Without Borders.

The OECS ranks behind Romania, Chile, Botswana, South Africa, Senegal, Papua New Guinea and Burkina Faso.

In its assessment, which has remained the same over the years, RSF noted many media outlets are under the direct influence of politicians, especially during elections, because officials can withdraw state advertising at any time and deprive them of income they depend on.

"In some of the Islands, political parties even own or have major shares in media companies, compromising journalistic independence. The authorities are also monitoring social networks more and more closely, which encourages a degree of self-censorship," Reporters Without Borders said.

Here in St Kitts and Nevis, there is mounting evidence that the government calls local and overseas media houses threatening to send letters if certain stories that are unfavorable are carried.

The spending of millions of dollars in a relentless strategic propaganda campaign aimed at misleading the people of St Kitts and Nevis was recently highlighted by former government minister Dwyer Astaphan.

“What about the government media? How much is being spent on propaganda in the media?” Astaphan asked during his weekly radio programme, “The Operating Room.”

Astaphan also raised the issue of the Timothy Harris administration’s control of several media houses in St. Kitts and Nevis.

“How many (radio) stations do the incumbents want to control in this country? How many news and media agencies?” asked Astaphan, a lawyer.

Since taking office in February 2015, Harris has total control of ZIZ Broadcasting Corporation (ZBC) – the state-owned radio and television station and is known to have a significant measure of control of several media houses including SKNVibes, St Kitts-Nevis Times, Times Caribbean and Sugar City FM, which are heavily financed by the government and some state-owned corporations.

The government is also known to wield significant influence over some radio stations, newspapers and online media outlets.

The government pumps hundreds of thousands of dollars in several newspapers and online media outlets overseas which are paid to disseminate releases from the Office of the Prime Minister.

Prime Minister Harris during his press conferences has been critical of journalists for asking questions on burning and controversial issues and has asked his supporters not to listen to radio stations that balance their programming with information from the opposition or persons who give constructive criticism.

The United States Department of State Human Rights Report on St. Kitts and Nevis for 2017 stated that “NGO’s and media reported that the media climate was sensitive and media outlets reported self-censoring to avoid problems with the government.”

The World Justice Report also gave St. Kitts and Nevis a dismal grade in the area of open government in 2019.

"At 30th place out of 126 countries worldwide, St Kitts and Nevis declined two positions for overall rule of law performance in the WJP Rule of Law Index 2019 edition," the institution stated.

The opposition St. Kitts-Nevis Labour Party has also accused the Timothy Harris-led administration of effectively controlling several important institutions with members of his family and his PLP executive officers appointed to the judiciary, the police, the prison and as directors on the Boards of the St. Kitts-Nevis-Anguilla National Bank, the Development Bank of St. Kitts and Nevis, the St. Christopher and Nevis Social Security Board, The Cable and the St. Kitts and Nevis Air and Sea Ports Authority (SCASPA) and the Clarence Fitzroy Bryant College (CFBC).