Update | PAJ in stand-off with Christian radio station
Published:Thursday | February 18, 2021 | 12:22 AM
A push by Christian media workers from TBC Radio to join the Press Association of Jamaica (PAJ) has resulted in a dispute, with reports of a stand-off at Sunday’s annual general meeting (AGM).
The row has triggered the resignation of legal representative and long-standing member of the executive, Helene Coley-Nicholson, who was believed to be a sympathiser of the conservative religious group.
Eyebrows were raised among the PAJ leadership when requests for membership were submitted by employees of the faith-based media house in the wake of the PAJ's sharing of promotional information for a training workshop organised by a gay-rights lobby.
The move by the TBC members fuelled speculation that there was an attempt to marshal sufficient numbers to overthrow the administration of the PAJ at Sunday’s AGM.
However, The Gleaner understands that some TBC members first sent in applications three times, from as far back as August 2020.
Things came to a crescendo when TBC workers turned up “to observe” the AGM.
PAJ President George Davis said on Wednesday that TBC lawyers Myers, Fletcher and Gordon attempted to contact him last Friday under an “URGENT” caption, but there was no attachment.
“Up to today’s date, I haven’t seen the letter,” Davis said.
The Gleaner understands that while no demand was made in the letter, a plea to have the TBC media workers observe the meeting was requested.
Davis pushed back at allegations that the PAJ was trying to frustrate efforts by the TBC workers to join the association.
“At no time were there any attempts to mount boulders in the way of the TBC workers ... no time at all,” the PAJ president said.
He reported that among the issues that hindered registration were some TBC workers not being bona fide journalists and not meeting other credits set out by the association’s constitution.
Davis said that the applications by the TBC media workers, along with other submissions, are to be considered by the executive.
Attempts to contact Coley-Nicholson were unsuccessful.
Editor's Note: PAJ President George Davis has clarified that the PAJ's sharing of promotional information for the training workshop was not necessarily an endorsement or facilitation of its agenda. The PAJ distributes promotional information submitted by various interests to its membership.