The Tribune

By NICO SCAVELLA

Tribune Staff Reporter

nscavella@tribunemedia.net

MEMBERS of the media will now be allowed to conduct interviews of “diplomats, officials and other individuals who make courtesy calls on the Governor General” in an “office building” of Government House, officials confirmed yesterday.

The interviews must be verified by the visitor and the Governor General’s secretary prior to approval, however.

The announcement comes after Government House officials declared last month that interviews with individuals or groups making courtesy calls at Government House “will not be permitted inside Government House or anywhere on the premises.”

In a statement yesterday entitled ‘Government House Amended Media Guidelines’ the office of the secretary to the Governor-General issued a “clarification” to the previous restrictions.

The statement read: “The media will appreciate that diplomats, officials and other individuals who make courtesy calls on the Governor General may not wish to address the media on such occasions, and it would appear to be only proper for the media to ascertain the willingness of visitors to be interviewed prior to such events.

“In cases where prior agreement for interviews has been reached by the visitor and the media, and the Secretary to the Governor General has been apprised of the matter by the relevant media, an area of the Office Building will be made available for the interviews.”

Last month Government House officials announced that the Governor General (Dame Marguerite Pindling) “does not give interviews,” nor could members of the media interview anyone else inside Government House or on its premises during officials functions.

The guidelines were circulated by Bahamas Information Services (BIS) and were outlined in a document titled “Government House Procedures for Members of the Media.”

The guidelines were a sharp turn from previous protocol at Government House.

In the past, previous governor generals allowed reporters to pre-arrange interviews with them at Government House by request.

Additionally, reporters were never prohibited from interviewing guests at functions at Government House after ceremonies.

The statement said the guidelines were enforced to “ensure propriety and to preserve the essential decorum which must be observed at the official residence of the representative of Her Majesty the Queen, the head of state.”

The statement added that during state events, such as the presentation of credentials by foreign diplomats, opportunities for photographs will be managed by a press liaison officer assigned to the media. The statement said the guidelines would take immediate effect. It added that BIS is the agency responsible for all media relations.

Previous Governor General Sir Arthur Foulkes, a former journalist, gave several interviews to the media while serving as head of state. Other dignitaries have been interviewed at Government House on the sidelines of events, including Prime Minister Perry Christie and senior members of his Cabinet after they were sworn into office.

Dame Marguerite was appointed Governor General in July after Sir Arthur demitted office. She is the widow of Sir Lynden Pindling, the country’s first prime minister.