Budget 2021 has paved the way for the establishment of a National Broadcasting Academy and provided opportunities to increase capacity building for the state media, Minister of Public Affairs within the Prime Minister;s Office, Kwame McCoy told the National Assembly on Monday during his presentation.
McCoy told the House that his office began laying the foundation after the passage of the 2020 budget and during the course of this year they aim to build on that. He related that they will be working to expand both human and technical capacity in the state media to ensure they reach the needs of Guyanese audiences.
“The training mix will include local refresher training; a wide-ranging scholarship programme at certificate, bachelor’s and master’s degree levels; and an expansive regional and international professional study exchange programme,” he highlighted in his presentation.
According to McCoy, work will continue to improve and develop local content for the various radio stations across the hinterland.
He said that no longer will the state media apparatus be allowed to operate in isolation from civil society and out of sync with the nation. Moving forward, he stated that they will be working towards integration of public affairs on every platform available for communication.
With the passage of Budget 2021, McCoy noted, his secretariat will be focused on eliminating the gap between information channels.
He said that it will “equip every hinterland household with short-wave radios, and provide technical training in the repair and maintenance of those radios,” as a means of ensuring every Guyanese has equal access to information.
Reflecting on the achievements of his office during 2020, McCoy said that it has commenced building robust systems both locally and internationally to coordinate information and communication between the government and the citizenry, to ensure that the people are aware of government’s policies, programmes and projects and how they can play a role.
He said that his team has been working hard to ensure public concerns are appropriately handled with regards to policy implementation, and at the same time addressing threats designed to upset the tranquility, stability, and security of the state.
The minister said that within the last few months they have been engaging regional and international media networks, and establishing partnerships for the effective marketing of Guyana and its products. In the same breath he said that his ministry has been able to showcase the vast opportunities in the new economic frontiers expected to build the nation’s new multi-dimensional economy.
He noted that they are cautiously repairing broken stakeholder relations among faith-based organisations and civil society, as they aim to quickly rekindle the participatory approach to governance. He also declared that the budget offers a transformative path for Guyana and all of its citizens.
