WASHINGTON (CMC):

Grenada's Ambassador to the United States, Denis Antoine, wants the media to partner with other organisations in helping to curb crime and violence plaguing the region.

Antoine, who is also Grenada's permanent representative to the Organisation of American States (OAS), has challenged the media to use its influence in tackling the problem which, he said, is also affecting the development of the region.

very responsible role

"The media has to take a very responsible role in the manner in which it uses its influence and see how the media as a partner in this process of curbing this issue of crime and violence can play its role, Ambassador Antoine said, as he addressed a World Bank-sponsored teleconference here.

He encouraged more dialogue among stakeholders and applauded the recent meeting in Jamaica, organised by the University of the West Indies (UWI) and the World Bank.

"The UWI and the World Bank and other donors and interested partners have come together at Mona under the Vice-Chancellor, Dr Professor Gordon Shirley, recently, to speak and to dialogue and to bring in interested partners, stakeholders to speak of this issue of crime and violence, not as if it's the responsibility of any one party, but the community," he said.

"And the media as a very influential part of the community I hope that they take on this issue."

The teleconference, organised by the National Association of Caribbean-American Journalists, was aimed at bringing Caribbean-American journalists across the United States and the Caribbean to address significant issues affecting journalists in the diaspora and the Caribbean region.