ST GEORGE’S, Grenada, CMC – The Grenada government has announced plans to regulate a number of professionals including media practitioners. Prime Minister Tillman Thomas, speaking during the budget debate here earlier this week, said that his government would be introducing the necessary legislation in the coming months targeting lawyers, accountants, engineers and media workers. “There is need for standards in all of these profession just like we have for doctors and others, so too there is need for standards to guide those who are coming or already into those professions,” the Prime Minister said. Thomas, who is also the Minister for Legal Affairs, said apart from the Legal Profession Act , his administration would also introduce legislation to regulate the accounting, engineering and media practitioners within the first three months of the year. “There will be the introduction of the registration of accountants act; the registration of engineers and off course the review of the libel laws as it affects the media,” he said. Thomas said that the current libel laws could instill fear in journalists as they carry out their work. “However, I believe that the time has come to create an environment where there is no fetter. Libel laws should not stop journalists from investigating, as a matter of fact, when there is a fear among journalists about pursuing stories, this can deprive the society from information it should get,” he added. Grenada expected to experience severe drought conditions over the next three months Scientists from the Caribbean Drought and Precipitation Monitoring Network (CDPMN), based in Barbados, have predicted that Grenada will experience severe drought conditions over the next three months. Information gathered by the unit indicates that for the year 2009 severe drought conditions were experienced in Grenada, especially the last three to six months, which have been particularly dry. Forecast models currently indicate that for the period January to March 2010, below normal conditions will persist over the southern portion of the eastern Caribbean exacerbating the environmental impacts, and in particular extending drought conditions for a further 3 months. Local officials at the National Water and Sewerage Authority (NAWASA) have been admonishing Grenadians to use water in a very economical manner so as to conserve this very precious resource.