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Gov’t wants its own Online News site, waiting on GIS for cost
This recommendation was made during the time the Department of Information and Public Relations appeared before the Parliamentary Committee to defend their budget.
Appearing with the Permanent Secretary (PS), Mrs. Rosalie Adams, were Mrs. Arlene T. Penn, Director of Communications and Mrs. Geraldine Ritter-Freeman, Chief Information Officer (CIO).
Freshmen Territorial Member Honourable Archibald C. Christian asked, “what the cost would be to create an online site.” However, in responding to the question the CIO explained that, “there had been no investigations done on that subject area.”
The Minister for Education and Culture Myron V. Walwyn told the SFC that he “had a problem with the bureaucracy that existed around getting the information out to the public”. Mr. Walwyn, according to the report, further stated “that the online media houses were rending the Department of Information and Public Relations almost obsolete because of the length of time it would take for the government information to reach the public.”
Honourable Christian, who is one of the driving forces behind the idea of a Government run online news site, asked the CIO during the SFC presentation to look at “getting an online site for the Department and revert to Members because the organization should be competitive in the online arena. He advised that the maintenance fees and staffing figures should be included in the submitted information to ensure there would be no hidden fees.”
The Minister for Health and Social Development Ronnie W. Skelton told the SFC that he “concurred with his colleague’s earlier comment on the need for an online site….” He also claimed that the Government run and owned online news site “would not be used as a political tool.”
John E. Leonard, the General Manager of Virgin Islands News Online when asked about the idea said, “It’s highly unusual that government will be competing with the private sector, as there are some four to five online news sites in our small jurisdiction…maybe next they will want their own news paper, or radio station?” However, Mr. Leonard acknowledged that anyone can start a news site, but he hopes if Government starts one, “it will not be a partisan tool to just hear the government side of things.”
Who will have access to a Government owned and run online news site?
The Member for the first district Honourable Andrew A. Fahie asked if the backbenchers would have access to this website. The CIO indicated that she did not know, if that was a decision that she could make; it would be a matter that she would have to discuss with the PS in the Premier’s Office.
Meanwhile, representative for the third district Honourable Julian Fraser RA, stated that there had been long discussions about the government run and owned studio as it pertained to who could and could not use it. He explained that during the holiday season, certain Members of the House were at a disadvantage by not having access to a proper government facility for the purpose of producing their Christmas messages. In response, the CIO told the SFC that she could “not recall a consensus on how to move forward with opposition members’ ability to use the studio.”
Janice Williams of Little Apple Bay on the main Island of Tortola, told Virgin Islands News Online that she was skeptical of government starting its own online news site as, “it’s clear it could turn into a political tool funding by the tax payers…there seems to be a hidden agenda.”
First District representative Honourable Fahie while agreeing with the idea for a government owned and run online news site, warned the SFC Members that “it would not be a good idea to censor the media.”
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