A two-day workshop on local government elections for media workers ended on Sunday with reporters urged to report responsibly and fairly.
“There is a need for a journalism guidelines handbook in every news room,” executive member of the Guyana Press Association (GPA) Denis Chabrol said at the closing ceremony of the workshop held at the Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA) building on Main Street.
The training session was hosted by the GPA in collaboration with the High Commission of Canada.
Chabrol said during the training sessions, he observed that journalists had many questions that were unanswered as it relates to practices in the field. “We need guidelines in every newsroom. So everyone that come into the field would know these are the rules we play by,” he explained. Journalists were urged to use the handbook compiled by the Association of Caribbean Media (ACM) for guidelines as it relates to coverage on elections.
Journalists were lectured on topics such as Guyana’s local government and the role of the Guyana Elections Commission (Gecom), core issues for pre, e-day, and post-election day coverage, among others.
The forum featured persons such as Chief Election Officer (CEO) Keith Lowenfield, Deputy CEO Vishnu Persaud, Gecom Commissioners Vincent Alexander, Sase Guraj and Charles Corbin. Veteran journalists Enrico Woolford, Chabrol and Julia Johnson also engaged in panel discussions while a presentation was made by Wesley Gibbings, the President of the ACM.
Gecom Chairman Dr Steve Surujbally encouraged the media to engage in investigative journalism. “Challenge what the persons are saying when you hear [alleged] statements,” Surujbally said. He added that his doors are always open to engage in clarifications and discussions. “You ask questions, you must get answers,” he said.
The commissioner thanked the GPA and the Canadian High Commission for presenting the opportunity for the sharing of ideas and encouraged reporters to engage Gecom.
Meantime, Canadian High Commissioner to Guyana Pierre Giroux noted that Canada is celebrating 50 years of working with Guyana. He said a strong democracy must start with local government elections emphasising that local government elections are fundamental for development and it is much needed.
He pointed out that Canada wanted to help support the process of local government elections and they started with Gecom. He said that they saw the workshop as another opportunity to assist and they did.
Additionally, he told journalists that they are the medium by which the population can understand what is occurring.
