Reynolds sees no reason why he shouldn’t question Brown’s qualification

Journalist, Clinton Reynolds, has offered an explanation as to the reason for questioning the appointment of his colleague Jade Brown as the new Press Secretary to the Prime Minister.

Speaking at the beginning of his weekly television programme, Current Affairs, Reynolds asserted that he does not have an issue with Brown.

He recalled congratulating Brown on the “step up” and noted that people are free to choose who they associate themselves with and concluded that its her deicison.

Reynolds, who is also the president of the Media Association of Saint Lucia (MASL), said the only issue he had was whether Brown is qualified to hold the position.

“What is wrong with asking about somebody’s qualification, when they are being paid from the public purse? How is that about gender? How is that about the individual?” he questioned.

Reynolds said he also made a point in relation to the public service statues, which speaks to having certain guidelines, criteria and requirements that need to be met in every position.

One such requirement is having a first degree. But Reynolds said Brown recently stated that she is now pursuing her first degree, something he hinted still does not qualify her for the job.

“Since when does the pursuit of a degree or qualification render the person qualified?”

He presented a scenario where someone goes to a doctor’s office and is told by the doctor that he is not done with his medical degree, but the individual could trust him, because he is in medical school.

“How many people would allow the doctor to examine him or her?” he questioned.

A few minutes later when the lines were opened, a caller advised Reynolds that he should not have taken that stand as a former colleague of Brown and president of MASL.

The unknown caller told Reynolds, by questioning whether she is qualified or not, in his mind, he (Reynolds) is already proclaiming that she is not suited for the job.

At one point, the caller was told he is not a “media expert” and he should not be commenting on things he is unaware of, but the caller told Reynolds that he is judging him, without proof that he is qualified.

Brown had told the local media that she is not concerned about the criticisms, but is prepared to deliver and is confident having been appointed by the Prime Minister to serve as the new Press Secretary.

Brown has served as a television reporter and co-anchor for HTS NewsForce.