( l - r ) Bird and Spencer

ST JOHN'S, Antigua (CMC):

Leader of the Opposition Antigua Labour Party Lester Bird has condemned "in the strongest terms" the government's decision to ask two Caribbean journalists to leave the island this week.

Bird, in a statement, said Wednesday's action against Lennox Linton, the former Station Manager of the privately-owned OBSERVER Radio, and Trinidadian Vernon Khelawan, a former editor-in-chief of the Stanford-owned Antigua Sun newspaper, was an "attack on freedom of speech."

Counter to CSM

The immigration department said the men were asked to leave the country because they were working illegally.

However, regional and local media organisations, in denouncing the actions of the Baldwin Spencer regime, say the decision runs counter to the intent of the CARICOM Single Market, which sanctions the free movement of media workers.

"I condemn in the strongest terms this attack on free speech in so callous, despicable and irresponsible a manner by this UPP (United Progressive Party) administration," Bird said.

He called on trade unions, civil and religious organisations as well as Caribbean professionals "to join (him) in speaking out against this flagrant injustice meted out to two Caribbean brothers."

Defended other action

Bird defended his government's decision in 2002 to ask another regional journalist, Barbadian Julius Gittens, who was employed to OBSERVER Radio, to leave the country.

"At the time we sent home Julius Gittens, we were following the law," the statement said.

Gittens was asked to leave the country because Labour Department officials said he did not renew his work permit, which had expired, Bird said.

It has been alleged that Linton, after he left the employ of OBSERVER Radio, was employed as consultant by opposition parliamentarian Asot Michael, but Michael has denied the charge.