The Tribune

SINCE the release on Friday of the strict code of behaviour expected of the press when called to “cover” Government House, a jesting Bahamian wanted to know if we had indeed installed the Queen at Mount Fitzwilliam.

“In an attempt 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 Office of the Governor General of the Bahamas has issued general guidelines for members of the media,” said the release that was headed: “Government House – Procedures for members of the Media.”

The release is a list of don’ts. In short, the Governor-general does not give interviews, nor will anyone else who the press might be called on to “cover” at Government House.

If these rules are instituted, then there is no reason for the press — reporter or photographer to go to Government House for any function — Bahamas Information Services (BIS) can do our job for us.

The first rule is that the Governor-General – who has just returned from London where she was officially invested in her office by the Queen — does not give interviews. On national occasions, including the Independence anniversary and Christmas and New Years’ observances, all messages will be issued by BIS.

Also interviews with persons or groups making courtesy calls at Government House will not be permitted inside Government House, or anywhere on the premises. The media can make separate arrangements for interviews elsewhere.

Nor will the press be allowed to interview any guest or staff member at social functions at Government House. Photographs will be allowed under the direction of the press liaison officer. And so, the list of don’ts continued.

At no time in our more than 50 years as a member of the Bahamas press corps has Government House issued such instructions.

The only hard and fast rules in our day was that a reporter had to be courteous at all times. And Bahamians needed no instructions in this as — unlike today — they were a naturally courteous people. At The Tribune, the owners set the example. Our female reporters were always neatly groomed, ready to be sent out to any assignment whether it be Government House, a murder scene or a court case. In those days, a female reporter always had to have her head covered – a small hat was kept in the office for that occasion. Without the head covering, a lady could not enter the courtroom.

As for our young men, they always kept a coat and tie in the office in case they got an unexpected assignment to Government House, or anywhere else that a coat and tie was required. This was always a must to enter court.

At no time did any of our staff have to be reminded of the behaviour that was expected of them. Whenever they stepped outside The Tribune, they were conscious that they went as representatives of this newspaper — and they always did us proud.

But then a new day arrived — the PLP were determined to break with the old “British” ways. Among the many freedoms was a change in the formal dress of members of the House of Assembly. They felt that they should be free to wear bush jackets to all official functions, whether it be the House of Assembly or Government House. We distinctly remember one of them — the others have long since left this Earth to meet their Maker — appearing in his bush jacket at an official function at Clifford Park. To us of the old school, this was the height of disrespect. We are satisfied that today he would be upset if the same discourtesy were shown him.

For the first time at The Tribune, our staff questioned the rules. At the time we had a young, rebellious set with us, ready to kick against the goad. Their argument was that if the staff at Government House could dress as they wished why shouldn’t they. It got so bad, that one day Col Lionel Chapman, an elderly Englishman – left here to try to guide the new Bahamian governor general – could tolerate no more. This is the nearest that we got to rules being laid down at Government House — rules that up until then had been self-imposed by Bahamians because they believed it was the right code of conduct. Bahamians then had enough self respect not to let themselves or their newspaper down.

One of our lady photographers had turned up in jeans, and a male reporter arrived without coat and tie and wearing sandals. No more, said the Colonel. And, for the first time, in our newsroom we had to discuss dress codes and proper behaviour.

One of the Guardian staff, so incensed by BIS Deputy Director Elcott Coleby’s Government House press release on Friday, shot back in an e-mail:

“This is, I believe, without fear of intelligent contradiction, the dumbest thing to come out of Government House in many years, whatever the ‘protocols’ might be.

How does this deepen our democracy?”

Replied Mr Coleby:

“Sir Arthur Foulkes is a legendary journalist in The Bahamas. As a journalist, wrong or right, those were the policies he authored and implemented for public events and official state functions at Government House and they stand today. Obviously the incoming Governor-General adopted the policies.”

Replied the Guardian reporter:

“So you’re blaming Sir Arthur? It will be interesting to see if he corroborates that version of events. He actually gives interviews. Anyway, thanks much.”

Replied, Mr Coleby, who is only the messenger in all of this:

“I am not blaming anybody, I am merely stating the facts. These guidelines were not authored by BIS and BIS does not control Government House. They were released by BIS on behalf of Government House. Also, I have not seen Sir Arthur grant an interview while he served as Governor General.”

Guardian reporter:

“He granted several. Pick up a DVD of ‘The Independence Story’ from Cable 12. Or I can send you a copy. In any event, we’ll see how coverage is or isn’t impacted.”

The Guardian reporter is correct.

We have known retired Governor General Sir Arthur Foulkes from the days when he would grab his coat and tie from the coat stand in The Tribune newsroom to “cover” Government House, and we would put on the much-hated hat and go to the court.

At no time would Sir Arthur have authored such rules. There were times when he was Governor-General that ambassadors arrived before him to present their credentials. If a reporter wanted to interview the ambassador, he respectfully asked the protocol officer and if the ambassador agreed to the interview then Government House’s library was made available for the private interview. At all public functions at Government House during Sir Arthur’s time the press was allowed to mix with the guests, and if both sides agreed, conduct interviews.

No, without reference to Sir Arthur, we know that he had no such rules while he was governor-general, nor, as a true journalist, would he be capable of writing such rules. These rules are obviously the wishes of the new governor general.

Unfortunately, the dress code is still a problem. We understand that the protocol officer has had to bar a young reporter who arrived in shorts. Reporters are expected — and rightly so— to be appropriately dressed. To be otherwise, is a sign of bad manners and poor judgment. We would expect them to be denied entrance.

It will now be interesting to see if Lady Pindling and her rules will be isolated by the press in her castle on Mount Fitzwilliam.