Address On Tenth Anniversary Of Winn Fm - 2012

This is a particularly pleasing occasion for me as one of the founders of WINNfm. When at the turn of the century the small group of founders began to plan the establishment of the station I did not in my wildest dreams expect that within ten years of operation WINNfm would become a national institution in our little country. It has. I expected that the station would establish a solid reputation for independent news coverage and would contribute to the development of the long repressed right of free speech. I didn't for one moment think that largely through the efforts and example of the station free speech and the media would advance fifty years in ten short years.

Enormous credit is due to two men and one woman. The first is Michael King who was the 

driving force behind the establishment of the station and it's first chairman. This country owes a debt of gratitude to Michael for the vision he had in making TDC the commercial leader that it has become and in creating WINNfm.  

The creation of WINNfm reflected the broad vision of Michael who realised that business does not exist in a vacuum, that to thrive it requires social stability and that a crucial ingredient in social stability is not only economic growth but strongly practiced fundamental rights. Michael therefore saw investment in WINNfm as what he called insurance and which insurance he regarded as important to his business as property insurance. It was his insistence also that FMG, owner company of WINNfm, should have a wide shareholder base and that no single shareholder should own more than 10 per cent of the company. That has been achieved with approx 50 shareholders.

The second gentleman I recognise is Clive Bacchus for translating the vision into action. St. Kitts and Nevis are blessed that Clive came along when he did and brought his journalistic excellence, sharp mind, calm spirit and sound judgment to the cause of WINN. Clive, your role in bringing the modern media to St. Kitts and Nevis may not be popular with all but it is a significant contribution to the  development of St. Kitts & Nevis. Survival of the often murky and rough waters of life in St. Kitts and Nevis would itself have been an achievement. You have gone further in setting the benchmark for the media.

Especial mention must be made also of Toni Frederick who has worked hard to help establish the WINNfm brand and whose positive and charming spirit and persistent investigative skills have made her very much the voice of the station. Keep up the good work Toni. But, fellow members of WINNfm, we have only just begun. The independence of expression for which WINN was created remains a work in progress. Albert Einstein said,

“Few people are capable of expressing with equanimity opinions which differ from the prejudices of their social environment. Most people are even incapable of forming such opinions.” 

In our context in St. Kitts and Nevis the main prejudice is to be found in the tribal politics which is our scourge. Coupled with this is the dependency syndrome encouraged by our politicians who in turn are deified by their followers influenced by goebbels like propaganda much of it under the pretence of  journalism. We have even heard recently of a claim to miracles. This culture is the greatest obstacle to growth and development we face as a nation because it stifles positive energies, creative thought, the development of talent and productivity. 

WINNfm was intended to transcend that bigotry. As Einstein's comment recognises that is not an easy task but we must persist at it. WINN must resist the subtle and not so subtle pressures against independent thought and speech and lead the way in promoting positive dialogue.

I warn however in this regard that as popular a programme as it may be WINN should not be defined by “voices”. That programme has its place but WINN should also encourage participation in its programming by others who do not wish to be associated with the hurly burly of voices. 

We have a real test of the maturity of the media and our country in the current parliamentary situation. A motion of no confidence should not create a crisis and should not unleash tensions. It is a purely  parliamentary process and should be portrayed as such. It is the exercise by the opposition of the counterweight given to them by the constitution to the vast powers given to the Prime Minister by the constitution. I remind you in this regard that no where in the sections of the constitution dealing with the  election to or functioning of the national assembly will you find the words political party. Each representative has total freedom to vote as he or she wishes regardless of party or any other affiliation. That is a fundamental aspect of our parliamentary democracy.

The motion has so far brought out the usual veiled threats, abuse and character assassination that are the hallmarks of our tribalism. This matter should be resolved where it originates and belongs that is in  parliament. And it should be resolved civilly and speedily. Political games will hurt the Country. 

Another significantly negative feature of our politics is the monopoly by government of the 

national radio and tv service. As long ago as the Four Seasons Accord all political parties on both islands agreed at the historic forum convened in Nevis in 1994 to “free up ZIZ” to use colloquial language. Every now and again I read that document and see all the signatures on it - Denzil Douglas, Kennedy Simmonds, Vance Amory, Joseph Parry, Lee Moore among others. Yet 18 years on ZIZ remains the mouthpiece of the ruling party. And Nevis has its equivalent as that island has foolishly  copied the tribalism practised in St. Kitts. 

A few months ago our courts in a landmark judgment declared that the opposition is entitled to access to the nationally owned media and that such access is the fundamental right of each person running for public office. Very little has been heard in the four months of what the opposition plan to do to force the  government to respect that decision. I get the distinct impression that they only care about the exercise of that right in relation to electioneering.  

I often wonder what our young people must be thinking of this. A few weeks ago in his address to the Jamaican parliament at a special sitting held in his honour, former Jamaican Prime Minister P.J Patterson addressed the subject. He said 

“We must abandon the adversarial approach of the past and replace it with a consensulal form of politics to embrace the best ideas regardless of the political quarters from which those ideas originate.” 

He continued by expressing the fear that unless the political environment is changed the brightest minds will be discouraged from participating thereby placing the democracy of Jamaica at risk. Ditto for us. The logical conclusion of his analysis, for Jamaica and for us, is that the vacuum will be filled by  unscrupulous opportunists bent on grabbing the spoils which avail themselves to those who win elections. I agree entirely with Mr. Patterson. The continuation of this system will eventually lead to great grief. 

WINNfm has a role to play to help us avoid that grief. I urge it, as its theme for the next ten years, to promote greater participation by our young people in the national debate on this and other important issues. This will not be easy, but the first ten years were anything but easy. WINNfm must be unaffected by the labels imposed on it as part of the political posturing. WINNfm must treat that labelling for what it is - idiotic politics. WINN must continue to lead and, as happened with the mushrooming in the last ten years of print, broadcast and electronic media, others will follow until the regressive politics of the last  45 years since self rule was achieved with statehood in 1967 is no more and the young, bright and energetic minds of our young people chart a new course of consensual politics in which principles not men are foremost. 

I congratulate the board, management and staff of the station on a job excellently done. I urge the company's shareholders to support financially the upgrade of equipment which is required to take the station forward. You will really be putting country above self if you invest generously in this insurance policy which is critical to the peace, stability and development of St. Kitts and Nevis.