Desmond AllenTO THE untrained eye, the television coverage of the State Funeral of former Governor-General Sir Florizel Glasspole, was just excellent. It might have gone unnoticed, but the occasion represented a possible first, certainly in recent memory, for media co-operation. With the Jamaica Information Service (JIS) operating as the nucleus, TVJ, CVM and CPTC pooled resources and covered the funeral almost as one.
Surely, that is pointing the way - for certain national events, competition and one-upmanship should be kicked out the window to let national pride prevail. It was also, perhaps, the media's way of paying tribute to a man who was very special to many reporters and photographers who, in a manner of speaking, cut their teeth at Kings House.
The Gleaner had a practice in my time (early 70s) of sending the cub reporters and photographers to cover courtesy calls and other events at Kings House. Sir Florizel was always most accommodating and helpful to the young professionals in training. We will remember him for this. On behalf of those journalists, I wish fond farewell to a giant among men.
Media
farewell
And speaking of farewell, the "out-wind" is blowing and we will soon be saying fare thee well to three media heavyweights in the persons of Observer CEO, Maxwell Wynter, Gleaner Editor-in-Chief, Wyvolyn Gager and Financial Gleaner editor, Delroy Alexander. In the case of Wynter and Alexander, both are responding to the lure of the northern climes. We wish them well in their new endeavours.
PAJ Wordsmith medal
Did I tell you I received one of eight PAJ Wordsmith medals at the December 2 Annual National Journalism Awards presentation? If I didn't, it just means that I must be losing my touch. I collected for my work as founding editor of the Observer. Bragging rights are due, don't you think?
Caricom/
Canada
summit
Didn't I say the Canadians are classy? I gather that they have decided to underwrite the cost of staging the Caricom/Canada summit to be held next month. Recall that the summit was called off at the eleventh hour last September, when Canadian PM Jean Chretien had to turn around and head back to Canada, to show respect for former PM Pierre Trudeau who died while Chretien was on a plane to Jamaica. You know I like that kind of thing, don't you?
Spike readers' comment
Dear Spike, in a disgraceful piece of work passing for journalism, the Sunday Herald maligned the Ritz Carlton Rose Hall Hotel in its article (Dec 3) regarding the alleged "Bow-and-Shower" policy at the hotel. The headline of the article offered the reader no option but to assume that there was a policy in place at the hotel, requiring workers to bow to guests when serving them, and that some workers had refused to do this and had hence lost their jobs. However, in the article, the "bowing" issue is clearly shown as an allegation, and this allegation is pointedly rejected by the hotel's resident manager, Roderic Crawford, when it was apparently put to him by the reporter.
I think this article is a disgrace to local journalists. Here you have an unproven allegation, perhaps made by a disgruntled ex-employee (we were given no clue as to the source of the allegation) and an emphatic denial of the allegation by an identified spokesman for the hotel, no less that the resident manager. How much more of a denial than that does one need to reduce the allegation to mere rumour? But the headline has elevated rumour to fact and tarnished the Ritz's excellent reputation. It is no small issue either, as we know the extreme sensitivity the Jamaican psyche has in respect of the issue of serving guests and appearing servile and "licky-licky".
The headline and general tone of the article painted the hotel as unreasonable in its staff policies.
If you dispassionately analyse the facts presented in the article, separate from the rumour and innuendo, it is clear that the real story is about the fact that some of our labour force cannot perform to a higher standard and are resentful of being asked to do so. It is a disturbing story, though not from the perspective that the writers/editors obviously had. It has real implications about the future of the tourism industry in Jamaica and our struggle to remain competitive. I think it serves us better to try to resolve these problems than to give comfort to those who cry "oppression" when they are not up to the task. Shame on you, Sunday Herald. - Patrick McDonald pmcdonald@cwjamaica.com
Dear Spike, first, may I pay you a compliment on your interesting column. I was listening to the cricket from Australia last Thursday night/Friday morning on RJR Radio 2, when at about 5 a.m. I heard commentator Fazir Mohammed (I hope that is the correct spelling) telling me of flooding in Portland, Jamaica, in his between overs 'spiel'. I listened avidly to RJR at 6.a.m. and 7 a.m. and IRIE-FM at 6.45 a.m. for further news, and yes, you guessed it - nothing about flooding. I will leave you and your readers to come to your own conclusion. Best wishes. - David Morgan dwmorgan@cwjamaica.com.
Hi Desmond, in concept, I personally agree with Keeble McFarlane's view of the desirable definition of the word 'civilian' (Spike October 24/26). However, the Oxford Concise Dictionary - the main Oxford Dictionary being widely regarded as the definitive British English dictionary - has, since as far back as its 7th edition, defined 'civilian' as 'a person not in the armed services or the police force'. According to the book, I'm afraid Keeble is not correct. - Merrick Needham, logistics and protocol consultant 929-4585.
Send spikeable to spike@jol.com.jm; desal@cwjamaica.com; or fax to 926-0295.
